Tell City's Hagedorn Park Serves as Hub for Youth Sports and Community Recreation

Hagedorn Park has anchored Tell City's recreation life for generations, but the complex Perry County families use today is dramatically bigger and better than what existed just a year ago. A $2.48 million expansion and upgrade project, completed in 2025, transformed the park into a regional sports destination capable of hosting leagues and tournaments that draw visitors from well beyond Perry County's borders.

A Park That Spans Eight City Blocks

Hagedorn Park encompasses nearly eight square city blocks between 14th and 18th streets and Ruben and Schiller streets. That footprint makes it by far the largest public recreation space in Tell City, and the city has made full use of every acre. The park covers 53.4 acres, giving it room to host a wide mix of athletic and leisure amenities under one address.

The expansion was decades in the making. As Mayor Chris Cail noted at the dedication ceremony, "This complex represents an incredibly exciting milestone for Tell City. For over 20 years, residents were told of a new complex; plans were drawn up countless times, and many different versions were discussed." The project finally crossed the finish line in 2025, backed by a combination of public investment and state support. The City of Tell City, in partnership with the Tell City Electric Department, invested an estimated $1,880,514 in public construction funds, bringing the estimated total project cost to $2,480,514. The state contributed through Indiana's READI program: the Tell City Sports Complex received $600,000 in READI funds as part of the broader investment in upgrading and expanding Hagedorn Park's facilities.

The Sports Complex: Baseball and Softball at the Core

The centerpiece of the 2025 expansion is the Tell City Sports Complex, purpose-built for baseball and softball. The park features a full-size baseball field with a new indoor batting cage, an olympic-size outdoor swimming pool, six tennis courts, two full basketball courts, horseshoe pits, and a children's playground. On the softball side, Hagedorn Park also offers lighted men's and women's softball fields along with three girls' softball fields, of which two are lighted.

The new complex introduced substantial infrastructure improvements alongside those playing surfaces. Upgrades include a larger and improved concession stand and umpire lounge, air-conditioned restrooms and two family restrooms, 376 parking spaces with six handicap parking spots, directional LED lighting, and a new scoreboard. Accessibility was a defining priority throughout the project. Mayor Cail noted that the previous fields were not accessible to people with disabilities, and the redesign addressed that directly. The new facility is more inclusive with better ADA accessibility, and the drainage situation has been greatly improved.

The complex also carries a distinct local identity. Tell City students integrated works of art into the complex, and designers added vibrant colors to the framework. The complex quotes the late Dot Kessner, who helped initiate women's baseball in Tell City, with her words: "Be persistent and never give up." Those touches give the facility a sense of community ownership that goes beyond concrete and chain-link.

Beyond the Ball Fields: Amenities for Everyone

The sports complex is the headline, but Hagedorn Park serves a much broader population than competitive athletes. Throughout the park, amenities are available including a walking trail, a dog park, a swimming pool, a spray park, a playground, pickleball, tennis, and basketball courts. The combination of structured athletic facilities and informal recreation spaces makes the park accessible to Perry County residents at every age and fitness level.

The best seasons to visit for walking and outdoor activities are typically spring and fall, when the weather is mild and comfortable. That said, the lighted softball and baseball fields extend the park's usable hours well into the evening during the summer season, keeping programming active even on the hottest Indiana nights.

Parking, Access, and Getting There

One of the most tangible improvements from the 2025 expansion is parking. The previous configuration was widely seen as a bottleneck during busy game days, and the rebuild addressed it head-on. The new layout provides 376 parking spaces, including six dedicated handicap spots, a significant increase that positions the park to handle large tournament crowds without the congestion that plagued earlier events.

The park sits within Tell City's residential grid, bounded by 14th and 18th streets, making it walkable from much of the surrounding neighborhood. For those coming from elsewhere in Perry County or from out of town, the city's street grid makes the park straightforward to locate. The Tell City Parks and Recreation Department can be reached at 812-547-5511 for information on scheduling, field availability, and programming.

A Regional Draw, Not Just a Neighborhood Park

The investment in Hagedorn Park reflects a deliberate strategy to position Tell City as a destination for regional athletic events. The Sports Complex is expected to drive significant economic impact by attracting regional tournaments and visitors. Mayor Cail emphasized the importance of persistence, local leadership, and teamwork in bringing the project to fruition, noting that the Sports Complex represents not only an investment in youth and recreation, but in the city's future as a destination for events and regional activity.

State officials echoed that assessment. Heidi Young, READI Program Director for Southern Indiana with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, attended the dedication and said, "This is exactly the type of locally driven, quality of place initiative that the READI program is designed to support."

Mayor Cail specifically recognized Perry County Development Corporation President Eric Emerson, who secured rural development funds; organizers Dodie Otto and Janice Hackbarth; Tell City Clerk Treasurer Connie Berger; Tell City Common Council members; former parks director Brandon Long; and current parks director Steve Parker for their roles in getting the project built.

What Stephen Parker's Role Means for the Park's Future

Tell City Parks and Recreation Director Stephen Parker served as one of the key organizers and speakers for the new Tell City Sports Complex. Under his leadership, the parks department has signaled that the 2025 expansion is a floor, not a ceiling. Mayor Cail noted that more additions and improvements will come in the future as the city continues to invest in the park.

For Perry County families, that commitment matters. Hagedorn Park is already the county's most complete public recreation complex, and with the infrastructure now in place to host competitive regional tournaments, the seasons ahead are set to be the most active in the park's history.