Hillhouse Park
S. gilmore avenue, charleston, mo
| Click HERE for Directions to Hillhouse Park |
In 1970 the family of Benjamin Michael "Benny" Hillhouse donated the property for Benny Hillhouse Memorial Park to the City of Charleston.
On December 4, 2006 a dedication ceremony was held at the park for a new monument in memory of Benny Hillhouse, who died in a car accident on February 14, 1969 at the age of 18. Nelsene Hillhouse, Benny's mother, said that Benny would be very proud of Hillhouse Park, to know that many children have enjoyed the park over the past 36 years. He wanted somewhere for the children in Charleston to play ball.
The park has been through many major improvements in the recent years, thanks to the many volunteers, and excitement growing through the Jr. and Sr. Babe Ruth Fighting Squirrels, the Charleston BlueJays High School Team, and the Charleston River Dogs a Semi-Professional Baseball Team.
In 2008 a Pressbox/Consession Stand was built for use during the Midwest Plains Regional Baseball 16 - 18 year old Babe Ruth Regional Tournament which was held for the first time in Charleston July 23 through 28, 2008. The two-story brick building features a concession stand on the first floor with two windows used for service, and an upstairs and downstairs
bathroom. The upstairs houses the press box and an area to be used by the umpires for changing, etc.
The building was constructed by the Charleston Baseball Improvement Corp., and their volunteers. The old building that housed the concession stand and the bathrooms was torn down. The Charleston City Works Department built a new restroom and storage building 24 x 40 in the park. This building is located where the former basketball area was. It includes three stalls in each the men and the women's restrooms that includes a handicap accessible stall. A large storage area is also included in the building with a garage door.
The Charleston Baseball Improvement Corporation is in the midst of its fund raising efforts to raise enough money to construct new bleachers at the large field at Hillhouse Park. CBI Board Members are: President Jimmy Browning, Vice President Larry Smith and Secretary/Treasurer Junior DeLay.
CBI recently received a grant from The Southern Foundation for the purchase and installation of a new public address system at the park. Their goal now is to raise enough money over the summer months of 2009 in order to proceed with the project immediately following the conclusion of this baseball season so the park will be ready by next spring for the beginning of the high school baseball season. CBI wishes to thank all contributors and encourages those wishing to make a donation to send checks payable to:
Charleston Baseball Improvement Corporation
Attn:Junior DeLay
1305 Warde Road
Charleston MO 63834
or to make a donation to the Hillhouse Park Memorial Fund at Focus Bank in Charleston.
