GARDENDALE, Ala. – On March 11, the long-awaited Bill Noble Park hosted a grand opening event to mark its first official day in operation, drawing 5,000 attendees.
The new sports complex features many amenities designed to promote physical and mental well-being for residents and attract quality youth sporting events and regional tournaments to the City of Gardendale. The vision of Bill Noble Park has been the long-awaited dream of Mayor Stan Hogeland. “We want to maximize usage while protecting the rights and expectations of the local citizens,” says Hogeland.
The occasion kicked off with a celebratory parade. The route began at the Gardendale Police Department parking lot and traveled to the new facility. Upon arrival, a special opening ceremony commenced featuring welcoming speeches from notable guests, such as the park’s general manager Will Mayhall, Hogeland, and management firm Sports Facilities Companies (SFC) executive vice-president Mike Kelly. Following, the first-ever inaugural baseball and softball games broke in the fields. As part of the festivities, skills clinics for football, softball, and baseball ran intermittently throughout the day. To wrap up, a fireworks show began at 6:45 p.m. The highly anticipated community event was free for all ages.
“This is an exciting time for the city of Gardendale,” says Mayhall. “We are incredibly grateful for the partnership between the City of Gardendale and SFC to be able to provide an opportunity for the citizens of Gardendale to not only engage in healthy activities but also to enjoy spending time with their families.”
Bill Noble Park provides a safe and accessible environment for citizens and traveling sports families to participate in sports such as baseball, softball, tennis, pickleball, and more. The park features nine softball/baseball fields, eight tennis courts, 11 pickleball courts, one football/soccer field, and a state-of-the-art inclusive playground. The park is named after the city’s former mayor who served from 1972 to 1996.
“The new Bill Noble Park has something for everyone, and we are so excited to offer this new and incredible opportunity to the people of Gardendale,” says the city’s marketing manager Caeley Guthrie. “Bill Noble Park has many offerings that the citizens of Gardendale have not seen in previous years; there is something for all ages to enjoy–from ball fields and tennis courts to a magnificent new playground. We understand the importance of quality outdoor recreation spaces, and we’re confident everyone visiting this park will be thrilled with their experience.”
