Destin High School celebrated the opening of its first home baseball field Wednesday evening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that brought together local officials, school administrators, and community members.

The $58,000 field at Morgan’s Sports Center fulfills a long-held dream for the school, according to Heidi LoCicero, President of Destin High School’s board.

• “When we first started thinking about Destin High School, the founders made a wishlist of things we would like to one day have. One of the things that always landed at the top of our wishlist was a baseball field,” LoCicero said during the ceremony.

The project was made possible through a partnership between the charter school and the City of Destin, with the city council voting to support the initiative.

The City Council unanimously approved an agreement back in October allowing Destin High School to use and modify a city softball field for its baseball team, ending a three-year period without a home field for the school’s baseball program.

• That agreement helped solidify a home field for the Sharks after losing access to the Destin Elementary School baseball field on April 1, 2024.

Donald Williams, Executive Director of Destin High School, thanked Lisa Firth, Director of Parks and Recreation, for her role in making the field a reality.

• “Lisa, your dedication, your responsiveness, and your genuine belief in our students helped us to make this field a possibility,” Williams said.

The ceremony featured several local officials, including Councilwoman Teresa Hebert and Shane Moody, Chairman of the Destin Chamber.

Construction lead Scott Kirby donated labor for the project, which was completed at cost, while structural engineer Betsy Smith performed her work pro bono, according to Williams.

Dr. Diane Kelley, Principal of Destin High School, emphasized the importance of extracurricular activities in providing a well-rounded education.

“I believe in a well-rounded student, and I know wholeheartedly that things like baseball, other sports…things like teams and extracurricular activities outside of school, make for a well-rounded and exciting high school experience, and that is exactly what Destin High School stands for,” Kelley said.

Following the ribbon-cutting, Destin Little League members formed a tunnel for the Destin High School baseball team to run through as they were announced before their game.

School officials are continuing to fundraise for the maintenance of the field, with donation options available through QR codes distributed at the event.

• “To keep the space maintained, to pay for the space and for future generations, we do need your support,” Williams said. “Every dollar you give directly supports this program, our athletes, and this incredible new field that we now call the Destin High School Shark Home Baseball Field.”

The celebration included refreshments organized by Matt and Lauren Dahlman, with the Destin High School cheerleaders also participating in the ceremony.