Manatee County hosts March 7 grand opening for Blackstone Park soccer, softball fields and dog park

Manatee County hosts March 7 grand opening for Blackstone Park soccer, softball fields and dog park
Posted on 02/28/2020

MANATEE COUNTY, FL (Feb. 28, 2020) – Soccer and softball players have sparkling improvements to return to when spring leagues begin at Blackstone Park next weekend. A new dog park at Blackstone will also open, becoming Palmetto's first park for pups.

New concession buildings for both soccer and softball fields and six new baseball dugouts are the highlights of a 12-month, $2 million improvement project at Blackstone Park. See many of the improvements here.

Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources will host a brief ceremony to highlight the upgrades on Saturday, March 7. The dedication and ribbon cutting will begin at 8:45 a.m., before the start of the Manasota Youth Soccer season.

Blackstone Park is home to 11 youth and adult athletic leagues and programs.The improvements were funded by the half-cent infrastructure sales tax, approved by Manatee County voters in the fall of 2016.

Manatee County Property Management oversaw the project which began in late 2018. The new amenities were built by Tandem Construction. Last year, Manatee County opened a new skate park at Blackstone, complete with landscapes that are used by all age and skill level skateboarders.