There are eight combination softball fields on two hubs at the Edwards Park in Dalton, Georgia.
Edwards Park in Dalton, Georgia is an all-around satisfactory softball park. The park is well taken care of. Turf infields. Unusual dugouts. The fields are spaced apart quite a bit, which makes moving around the hubs easy. Clean and maintained restrooms on both hubs. There are eight softball fields on two hubs (these are combo softball/baseball fields) at the park.
Concessions at the park are – Terrible. If your team is playing at Edwards Park in Dalton, just plan on skipping the concession stand, unless you need a very overpriced bottle of water! Every food item is semi-cooked off-site, then heated up in a (nasty) microwave. Stick to anything pre-packaged like candy and chips, don’t even think about buying a food item like pizza, dogs, or burgers!
Skilled softball pitchers love turf fields! Mainly because it means no big holes in front of the plate dug out by pitchers on dirt infields. The holes happen when heavy pitchers rely on the momentum of their weight rather than skill. Read more facts.
Secondarily on turf fields – If a ball is hit in the infield, it just dies. No hop, no bounce, no nothing! The close-to-carpet turf infields at Edwards Park can be a huge defensive advantage, if an infield is ready.
Playing infield positions on the fields at Edwards Park requires turf shoes; Outfield positions may wear molded cleats – But metal cleats are banned from the park.
There are huge spaces between fields, and ample areas for fan seating. However – This is yet another softball park that would truly benefit by adding overhead netting. Foul balls outside the fields are very common, with no protection for spectators. I’m not sure why any county or city would go through the expense of building a softball park, adding turf fields, but forgetting about protecting fans. This is a ridiculous pattern, and Edwards Park is a prime example.
Edwards Park is not an unusual case of city and/or county park divisions leaving themselves open to injury lawsuits. It’s only a matter of time until softball parks that do not attempt to offer protection to spectators will suffer from damaging court dates.
Edwards Park is suitable for low-to-mid-level softball tournament play. Tournament directors holding high-level or showcase tournaments should avoid the park completely. It is advised that any tournament company contemplating Edwards Park for high-end play look elsewhere.
Edwards Park
115 Edwards Park, Dalton, GA 30721 (Google Map)
Park Website (Ad)
Edwards Park Softball Park Rating: 2 – Double.
PARK RATING SYSTEM
- 0 – Strike Out: Lowest rating; Avoid the park.
- 1 – Single: Not up to par; Good luck at the park.
- 2 – Double: Has potential; County and/or City Parks & Rec department could easily improve.
- 3 – Triple: Not a bad park; Could use some additions and upgrades to make it a great park.
- 4 – Home Run: Park that is excellent; Great fields, family friendly, and well taken care of.
*Softball Pitching Area Facts*
- Pitchers who “dig” wholes in front of pitching rubbers do so for leverage. In 99% of these cases, the pitcher is overweight, unskilled, and must rely on the deep push of their momentum to deliver a pitch.
- These same pitchers will also purposely dig holes in front of pitching rubbers in order to make an obstacle for opposing pitchers.
- Skilled pitchers, especially at higher levels, will not dig holes with their cleats nor on purpose. At the college level, digging holes purposely can disqualify a pitcher.
- Pitching holes dug by unskilled pitchers can be a danger and cause injury to other pitchers.
