For the past 18 years, Barcroft Park in Arlington, Va., has served as home field for GW baseball. The field, located on a 65-acre park at 4200 South Four Mile Run Drive, also hosts community league competitions.
On June 22, the Arlington County Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department held a public forum in Arlington to discuss proposed improvements to the field and gain community input. The forum was held a week after GW and Arlington County Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department were granted permission by the Arlington County Board to move forward in their ongoing discussions about enhancements to the field and associated stadium spaces.
The discussions begin “a new chapter in a long-standing public-private partnership between GW and the Arlington County Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department,” said Alicia O’Neil Knight, senior associate vice president for operations. “The expanded public-private partnership calls for GW to fund field improvements in exchange for continued use of an enhanced facility for the benefit of GW’s athletic department.”
“The George Washington University is committed to doing everything we can to ensure the success of our student-athletes on and off the playing field,” said incoming Athletic Director Patrick Nero. “We are hopeful that these discussions will lead to an agreement to make needed improvements.”
The need to improve the Barcroft facility has been identified as a priority in the Athletics Review and by GW athletic staff, coaches and student-athletes.
“The potential to upgrade our baseball facilities is very exciting news for our current and former players as well as all supporters of our program,” said Associate Athletic Director of Facilities Jason Wilson.
The Colonials have played their home games at Barcroft Park since 1993 and have accumulated a 291-181-1 record there. The team’s most successful year at Barcroft was in 2003 when they had seven consecutive home victories and ended the season with a 19-3 home record.