By Carleen Wild
Moody County Enterprise
For longtime Trent residents, summer nights at the local ballfield probably don’t feel like all that distant a memory. But it has been more than 10 years since the crack of a bat, players taking the field or crowds gathering to watch.
Today, the infield is overgrown, the bleachers are deteriorating and the ballfield sits quiet without anyone there to use it. That reality has town leaders talking about what should come next for the property.
The field is located just south of the old Trent gym, which now serves as the small town’s community center. Returning it to playable condition would require money — something town leaders and residents understand is limited.
The field would need to be restored and then maintained, with no guarantee teams would return or it would receive enough use to justify the expense.
Trent Finance Officer Trista Bohlen said town leaders are considering allowing the ballfield to transition into open green space or a more natural area. No final decision has been made.
The discussion is part of a broader effort to address areas of concern across Trent while making the best use of the town’s limited resources and available spaces.
That effort also includes an abandoned home at 306 E. Third St., located along the main route through town. Bohlen said the property has generated complaints, and town officials are seeking to have the home removed.