Joanna Project to hold groundbreaking ceremony April 17
An artist’s rendering of the remodeled 100-year-old Joanna ballpark.
April 17 will be a new kind of Opening Day in Joanna.
Organizers of the Joanna Project have planned a groundbreaking ceremony for the renovation of Joanna Stadium, which once was the home of textile league baseball at 917 Milton Road. The ceremony is set for 10 a.m. at home plate on the old stadium grounds.
The Joanna Project’s goal is to bring baseball back to Joanna while paying tribute to the community’s long history on South Carolina’s baseball textile leagues that dated from 1915 until the 1960s.
“We are thrilled to begin this project that will breathe new life into the Joanna community,” said Michael Riefsnyder, project leader for The Joanna Project. “This renovation is not just about improving facilities; it’s about investing in our community and restoring history.”
According to a release from The Joanna Project, the groundbreaking ceremony will serve as an opportunity for residents to learn more about the project and celebrate the future of Joanna.
The renovation to the stadium marks the first phase of a comprehensive improvement plan that could result in baseball returning to the stadium, which was originally constructed in the 1920s, by 2026.
Planned upgrades include expanding the dugouts, repairing the original bleachers from the late 1940s, adding new fencing and bullpens, irrigation and installing a new playing surface.
The Joanna Project’s website also touts the formation of the Joanna Hornets, a collegiate summer league team that would be part of the Southern Shores Baseball League. The Hornets would consist of local players currently on college rosters and could play this summer at Newberry High School if there is sufficient interest from potential players.
The Joanna Project is a nonprofit organization funded by public donations and private grants and fundraising efforts that are currently underway. Donations can be made and information can be found at thejoannaproject.org.
