The Abilene Park and Recreation Board on an unspecified date approved two field safety fences and construction of batting cages at Lake Kirby Park, following a public hearing and staff presentation.

City staff said Wiley Softball requested a new fence at a T-ball location and an additional fence at a second location. Leslie (park staff) told the board the fence installation would be fully funded by Wiley Softball. The board also approved construction of batting cages between Fields 2 and 3 to accommodate four batters at a time; staff said the cages are replacing a previously proposed project to add air conditioning to the concessions building that proved infeasible because of the building's electrical load.

The batting-cage work will proceed under an 80/20 cost-share arrangement, with the city covering 80% of the cost and the Wiley Softball league providing the remaining 20% of the project funds. Staff noted the league has the 20% match available.

Marissa Black, president of Wiley Fastpitch, described the league's goals in public comment: "we're really, really invested in trying to make the complex safer and better for the girls, for the community," and thanked staff for assistance during the transition to new league leadership.

Board members moved and seconded approval of both the fence and batting-cage proposals. The motion carried after a vote called at the meeting.

The approved work will include installation of a roughly 4-foot safety fence at one of the T-ball fields and construction of a four-person batting-cage unit sited along the tree line between Fields 2 and 3. Clint (engineer) and league representatives were present during the public hearing to answer technical questions.

City staff will follow normal permitting and procurement processes for the city-funded portion of the batting-cage project; the fence work funded entirely by the league will be installed as coordinated with parks staff.

Votes at a glance: the board approved the motion to authorize both the fence installation(s) and the batting cages and instructed staff to proceed. The meeting record did not include a roll-call tally or individual member votes.