In its current state, it is poorly laid-out and prone to flooding.

The Warren County commissioners hope to use some grant dollars to take a look at the possibilities for the county-owned complex.

On Monday, the commissioners discussed repurposing grant dollars intended to look into the future of the former Grunderville Landfill.

“We got a grant from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to do a feasibility study at Grunderville Landfill,” Commissioner Jeff Eggleston said. “It’s not something we want to work on unless we’ve got all our bases covered.”

Photo submitted to Times Observer Warren County commissioners are looking to upgrade and update the recreation facilities at the Farm Colony. This 2019 image shows the current layout of the fields at the complex with Route 62 at far right.

Those dollars will eventually expire.

But, they could be used to cover other bases.

The commissioners have been looking into redeveloping the Farm Colony Complex for years.

Eggleston suggested they “transfer the grant to come up with a site plan.”

The planning would not require any additional county dollars. And, preliminary discussion with DCNR about the transfer has been favorable.

“Warren Little League… they’re very excited,” Eggleston said. “There are five fields that are haphazardly laid out. There’s no parking, so everything gets torn up. The driveway is a mess.”

“One of the biggest things is addressing the water issues up there — flooding issues all over the place,” he said. “This would give us a chance to address those.”

“It would be a benefit to the kids of the county,” John Papalia, representing Warren County Youth Baseball/Softball Association, said. “It’s not just Little League that’s benefiting. It’s the county as a whole.”

Ballfields are the central point of the renovation, but plans for a playground, walking path, and other facilities are included.

“According to the consultant, they install walking paths around ballfields all the time,” Glotz said.

Providing a playground would give parents of children of multiple ages some flexibility in attending events at the complex.

Eggleston said he would like to see a site plan finished this year, “next year grant-raising and fund-raising, with the idea that we would break ground in 2024.”