Kinston City Council to Establish Historic Grainger Stadium Commission

Mayor Don Hardy and the Kinston City Council will convene on Friday, April 21, 2023, to pass a resolution creating the Historic Grainger Stadium Commission. The meeting will take place at 11:30 AM at the stadium, located at 400 East Grainger Avenue in Kinston, North Carolina.

Historic Grainger Stadium first opened in 1949 as Kinston’s “Municipal Stadium” and has hosted a variety of athletic, civic, and community events throughout its nearly 75-year history. The stadium has also been home to Minor League Baseball teams such as the Kinston Eagles, Kinston Indians, and the currently active Down East Wood Ducks.

As the city approaches 75 years of baseball at the stadium, the Kinston City Council seeks to further explore recreational, tourism, and economic development opportunities at the venue. Councilmember Chris Suggs will introduce the resolution to establish the commission during the meeting.

Following the council’s meeting, Kinston officials, including Mayor Hardy, City Manager Rhonda Barwick, and Kinston/Lenoir Parks & Recreation Director Corey Povar, will hold a media availability to discuss the establishment of the Historic Grainger Stadium Commission and its potential impact on the community.