Politics & Government

Second Entrance to Kramer Ball Fields up for Review

Councilman asks administration to look into crossing railroad tracks for second entrance to youth baseball fields

Kent youth baseball fans may get their wish — or at least part of it — to see a possible second entrance built for the Kramer Ball Fields.

Kent City Councilman John Kuhar asked city administrators to review the possibility of building a second entrance to the ball fields, which are cut off from Fred Fuller Park and isolated by the Cuyahoga River and the CSX Transportation railroad tracks.

The only entrance to the ball fields, the Redmond Bridge, is closed until it can be replaced in 2013. Because of the bridge closure, the fields have been rendered useless.

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Kuhar suggested simply cutting across the railroad tracks with an at-grade gravel road from the former RB&W property, which the city has agreed to buy, off Mogadore Road.

"Now that we have ownership of the RB&W site, is there a possibility that we could get a temporary easement and cut a gravel road in to the back of the ball field," Kuhar asked.

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Kent City Manager Dave Ruller said city administrators would have to examine the issue and report back to council on the possibility of creating a second entrance to the ball fields.

"The railroad is notoriously difficult," Ruller said.

Council members agreed to have city administrators study the issue.

Councilman Wayne Wilson cast the only vote against pursuing the idea.

"I don’t want to see (city) staff have to waste their time doing something," Wilson said. "The bridge is going to be up before we’d ever get approval from the railroad anyway."


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