| Construction Update: Crosley Terrace continues to
sprout outstanding new nuances for onlookers and passersby. One unique
feature that will serve as the signature symbol of Great American Ball Park
is the Spirit of Baseball. This limestone bas-relief will be proudly
showcased on the east wall of the Reds Administration Building. The Spirit
of Baseball bas-relief will weigh 335,000 pounds and measure 50 feet high
and 20 feet wide. The sculpture was designed to greet fans entering the ball
park and serve as a magnificent landmark for downtown motorists and
pedestrians. Dayton artist Mark Reidy conceptualized a nostalgic illustration inspired by the 1930s and 40s. The image depicts a young boy, clad in baseball gear, perhaps daydreaming about someday playing for the Cincinnati Reds. Above the boy are three ball players - a catcher, batter and fielder - representing three different cultural backgrounds. The Cincinnati skyline and the Roebling Bridge are prominently portrayed in the background. The Cincinnati-based Mees Distributors scanned and molded the illustration before cutting into the limestone surface. The process includes 33 pieces measuring 4.6 X 6 feet each. The pieces will be held in place by stainless steel pins and surrounded by brick. Workers will begin installing the pieces in the next few months. |
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Fun Fact – Mees Distributors was selected to sculpt and install the Spirit of Baseball bas-relief because of their precision cutting technology and accessibility to limestone. Mees installed the elaborate marble flooring at Lakota High School as well as the Man O’War sculpture at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. |
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| Community Displays: The Great American Ball Park
traveling display, featuring photographs, renderings and riverfront
development information, will be on display in the Provident Bank Building,
1 East Fourth Street, through October 24. |
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For more information on next week’s ball park activity, contact: |
Barnard Baker Dan Pinger Public Relations, Inc. (513) 564-0700 |
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