The Owensboro Catholic League officially dedicated its new playground Tuesday evening, marking a major addition to its long-standing youth baseball and softball complex.
League officials, families, and community members gathered for a ribbon-cutting and blessing at the site behind St. Pius X Catholic Church, where the new space is already drawing dozens of children each night.
Rodney Hawes, a longtime league volunteer, said the idea for the project grew out of a desire to give families more to do when they visit the complex.
“I’ve been involved with the league for about 25 to 30 years. It started out as church-based, and each parish had its own fields. Since we consolidated, there really hasn’t been much for kids to do other than the games themselves,” Hawes said.
Hawes said the area previously featured little more than an informal dirt pile where children would play, but league leaders began discussing a more permanent solution in recent years.
“We had an old dirt pile where kids would play, but it was messy and had become an eyesore. I felt like it was time for that to go,” he said.
The project gained momentum after the league connected with a regional playground developer and began organizing fundraising efforts. Contributions came from the league itself, private donors, and community supporters, including a significant gift from the Hagan family, for whom the playground is named.
“We started talking seriously about it late last year and were able to make it happen by March. It’s really been a blessing,” Hawes said.
The new playground features multiple slides, swings, and climbing structures, a major upgrade from the previous setup.
“We went from a couple of old swings to eight swings and six slides. It’s a huge improvement,” he said.
The space is open to the public, not just league participants, and includes picnic tables and gathering areas. Hawes said the location fills a need for families in that part of Owensboro.
“That area behind St. Pius and near the hospital has a lot of families. We knew people would use it, and they have, even when games aren’t going on,” he said.
The Owensboro Catholic League serves a wide range of players from across the region, offering baseball and softball for ages 4 to 14. Participation continues to grow, with more than 600 players each season and around 1,200 annually.
Despite its name, the league operates as a community-based program open to all.
“We’re basically our own identity. It says Owensboro Catholic, but we’re really a community league. We’re open to anybody,” Hawes said.
The organization is run entirely by volunteers and funded primarily through registration fees, concessions, and donations.
Hawes said the playground project was an opportunity to reinvest in the families who support the league.
“It’s always about the kids. We take in registration fees and concessions, and it felt like it was time to give something back in a meaningful way,” he said.
The impact has been immediate, he added.
“There are probably 50 kids on that playground every night now. It’s been amazing,” Hawes said.
League officials said the playground is part of ongoing efforts to improve the complex, which includes six fields and hosts dozens of games each week during the spring and fall seasons.
“We’re constantly growing and improving. Everything we put back into the complex is to make it better,” Hawes said.
Future plans could include additional upgrades such as batting cages and expanded facilities, but Hawes said the focus will remain on providing a welcoming, community-centered environment.
“We’re not trying to be ultra-competitive. We just want kids to play and enjoy it,” he said.
