Broome County may develop a wiffle ball stadium as part of a major improvement project being planned for Grippen Park in the town of Union.

County Executive Jason Garnar said he's "really excited" about the plans that now are being developed for upgrading the recreation area in West Endicott.

The County has been working on details of a multi-million dollar project for the park which is along the north bank of the Susquehanna River.

A wiffle ball stadium could be developed at Grippen Park in the next few years. Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News
A wiffle ball stadium could be developed at Grippen Park in the next few years. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)
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Endicott Johnson Corporation originally had owned what eventually became Grippen Park. The property was acquired by the village of Endicott which later turned it over to the county.

Broome County opened an ice skating rink at the park in 1972. After it was damaged by repeated flooding, it was used for BMX racing for more than a decade.

Garnar said Grippen Park hasn't been adequately utilized for many years and it's overdue for a major renovation.

Dirt which had been inside the old Grippen Park ice rink for BMX races has been removed. Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News
Dirt which had been inside the old Grippen Park ice rink for BMX races has been removed. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)
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The county executive said plans for renovating and "opening up" the existing building that had housed the ice rink. He said the new multipurpose facility could be used for soccer and pickleball.

Garnar said a wiffle ball stadium also could be installed on the site of a little-used playing field at the park. He said enthusiasm for wiffle ball has been growing across the country in recent years.

The county executive told WNBF News he expects the design work for the project will be completed soon. He said he hopes bids for the work can be sought this winter, clearing the way for construction to start sometime next year.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com or (607) 545-2250. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.

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