(Facebook photo)
POUGHKEEPSIE – The Dutchess County Legislature, meeting in special session Monday evening, voted to approve the $3 million bond to upgrade Dutchess Stadium in Fishkill, home to the Hudson Valley Renegades baseball team.
Lawmakers previously rejected the bond, but the county administration provided additional information to convince all 25 lawmakers to vote for it.
Legislature Chairman Gregg Pulver said after the meeting they plan to spend less than half of the bonded funds initially.
“We’re not going to spend any more than the $1.2 million until we have a memorandum of understanding with the Renegades,” Pulver said. “Their contract is expiring and so is the City of Beacon school district’s.”
The county-owned stadium is on school district land. Pulver said they hope to negotiate new contracts with the ball team and the district for five years with an ultimate goal of 20 years.
County Executive Marcus Molinaro said the stadium is more than a ballpark. It is “a vital economic engine for our county, hosting great baseball and hundreds of events where memories are made.”
