The 160-acre, $135M Spring Training complex in West Palm Beach shared by the Nationals and Astros could feature a "parking garage under the stadium concourse for players and team executives," and "grass berm seating around most of the outfield," according to Joe Capozzi of the PALM BEACH POST. Other features include "elevated berms with shade trees winding between practice fields allowing fans to sit on grassy slopes and watch workouts" and giant netting "to protect passing motorists from practice-field home runs." Site plans for the complex were submitted Wednesday to West Palm Beach City Hall, the "first of several governmental reviews for the project." Documents "refer to the project as The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, but that will change once naming rights are sold." The ballpark's main entrance will "include concrete steps rising 16 feet to the concourse level." That seating bowl "includes 6,500 seats, while the berms can accommodate another 2,000 people, giving the stadium a capacity of 8,500." The Nationals’ two-story locker room and clubhouse "will be behind the home plate and first-base seating area," while the Astros' clubhouse building "will be behind the left field wall." Dallas-based HKS will serve as the architect and is working locally with Urban Design Kilday Studios. The teams hope to open the park by '17 (PALM BEACH POST, 4/17).
