Golden Park’s fate appears to be sealed

It looks like Golden Park is in the bottom of the ninth, with two outs, two strikes, trailing by a bunch and no runners on base.

It is not looking good for the home team. But it hasn’t looked good for the home team in years. The park is no longer suitable for minor league baseball.

It basically sits there collecting dust.

Tuesday night could be the beginning of the end for Golden Park as a baseball venue when Columbus Council considers a resolution that would declare the park and the 5.5 acres it sits on as surplus property. That is what Columbus City Manager Isaiah Hugley is asking council to do.

As that great philosopher and catcher Yogi Berra would say, “It ain’t over till it’s over.”

But this one looks like it’s over.

They have not played minor league baseball in the park since 2008 when the South Atlantic League affiliate left. The city rents the venue for various games and events, but even with that it is costing an average of $83,000 a year for maintenance and utilities, according to the report that recommends it be sold. The city has its own budget issues, and it is looking to cut costs where it can.

And dumping Golden Park makes financial sense. The ballpark recently appraised for $3.735 million. That’s the starting price for the prime piece of the riverfront property.

“As I understand it, we don’t have a buyer,” Councilor Judy Thomas said Monday. “We are going to put it out there and see what happens. And I am good with that.”

The property has been in the city’s ownership since 1928. And they have been playing baseball there since then.

The bet here is baseball is done at 110 Fourth St. — and so is the stadium. Whoever pays in the ballpark of $4 million is likely going to want to develop it into something more useful than a baseball venue.

You can walk down there now and almost see a hotel or condominiums, maybe an entertainment complex of some kind. The park is a mile south of downtown and will likely spark interest from developers. As much as it hurts to say, there is a higher and a better use for that property than a run-down baseball stadium.

Right now, the city gets no property tax revenue from the site. If it goes to a private developer, the site will go on the tax digest. It would be irresponsible for council not to consider selling it — if the price is right.

Golden Park sits on the southern boundary of the Columbus Historic District, so the site has the advantages that come with the redevelopment that is taking place in the district without some of the construction and design limitations.

But there is likely to be opposition to whatever is proposed. There will be those who don’t want to see Golden Park razed and dream of pro baseball back on the banks of the Chattahoochee. And they will probably have opportunities to voice that opposition in a public forum because right now the property is zoned light manufacturing/industrial, which makes some sense because they did manufacture a few major leaguers there.

But unless someone has a better idea — and I have not heard one since 2009 when a college wooden bat team played there — Tuesday night could be the last pitch for historic Golden Park.

This story was originally published March 21, 2016 at 4:15 PM with the headline "Golden Park’s fate appears to be sealed."