David Allen Memorial Ballpark - Enid, OK
Posted by: RaineyFam5
N 36° 23.647 W 097° 52.679
14S E 600621 N 4028247
David Allen Memorial Ballpark, became Enid’s “Field of Dreams.” In the fall of 1996, fundraising efforts began in an effort to build a new baseball field for Enid. Fundraising was boosted when Paul and Joan Allen became interested in underwriting the construction of the ballpark as a memorial to their son David, a former Enid High and American Legion baseball player.
Waymark Code: WMPE69
Location: Oklahoma, United States
Date Posted: 08/16/2015
Views: 8
About the Person:
Paul and Joan Allen contributed to the building and development of the ballpark in memory of their son, David, who died in October 1995, nearly 17 years after suffering brain injuries in a car wreck. David had been an all-conference center for Enid High School's football team. Many colleges and universities had offered full scholarships. On the night of Dec. 9, 1978, David was riding with two friends from Oklahoma back to Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, where he was a freshman who hoped to play baseball. Five miles out of Austin, their car was hit from behind by a vehicle witnesses said was traveling about 100 mph. David had severe brain injuries and was given 15 minutes to live.
David Allen's body finally surrendered and he died in 1995. But that was long after refilling a "clean slate memory with stubbornness and the side-by-side tutoring of a loving mother. And understand, he didn't just get by, he battled all the way back to earn an associate in arts degree from Colorado Mountain College in Glenwood Springs.
About the Place:
David Allen Memorial Ballpark is located in downtown Enid, Oklahoma. From the brick arches at the entrance of the stadium to the large video display board in the outfield, this is truly a magnificent facility. The stadium has a large concession stand as well as a local baseball museum. There is also an artificial turf practice infield and indoor batting cages. The stands include 359 chair-back seats that were imported from the old Baltimore Memorial Stadium as well as seating upstairs in the balcony area. Since it’s dedication in 1999, the park has become known as one of the finest ballparks of it’s kind in Oklahoma and the region. In fact, the park has hosted the National Junior College World Series for several years running.
First Game was held August 4, 1999
Dedicated in 1999
Seating Capacity 3,000
Largest Crowd 3,069