A long-vacant Ohio ballpark that was once home to Negro League baseball is being positioned as a site for a new mixed-use development.
Ballpark Digest reports SPARC Holding LLC development firm, an affiliate of Arshot Investment Corporation, has presented a proposal to raze what remains of the 47-acre Cooper Stadium site in Columbus, Ohio, and create a four-story, 213-unit apartment building with two adjacent retail buildings and a two-story garage topped with recreational features including a swimming pool and pickleball courts.
Half of the ballpark’s grandstand has been demolished and the seating has been removed for the remaining half, which the developer said could be renovated to host special events.
The original Cooper Stadium opened in 1932 and was home to the Columbus Blue Birds of the Negro National League during 1933. It also served as the home of several minor league teams, most notably the Columbus Clippers from 1977 through 2008. The stadium hosted other events including concerts featuring Aerosmith, Bob Dylan, and Garth Brooks, along with professional wrestling tournaments and a revival meeting by evangelist Billy Graham.
Since its closure in 2008, several proposals for its redevelopment were raised, including the creation of a racetrack and an automotive testing center. A new multipurpose stadium was also proposed, but nothing came of that endeavor.
Photo: The remains of Cooper Stadium by Jsjessee / Flickr Creative Commons
