Marty Gordon
NRVsports@mainstreetnewspapers.com
Youngsters will finally take the field this Spring at Montgomery County’s new Teel Park sports complex.
The 35-acre site is located off Route 8 in the Riner area and includes four baseball/softball fields, two multi-purpose fields, three picnic shelters, two playgrounds and extensive walking trails. The complex took three years to complete with a final price tag of $16.8 million and was funded with no incurring debt.
The project reached substantial completion within the determined construction timeline. There are several remaining punch list items, according to the county’s public information officer Jennifer Harris, the contractor is addressing; however, the park is operational including ball fields for spring sports.
The farmland was previously owned by Williard “Casey” Teel and Mary “Shorty” Teel, along with their sons Lee and Gene “Bull” Teel. The family owned and operated a farm on the property in Riner, where they raised beef and dairy cattle, pigs, corn, and hay. Two plaques that honor the Teel family and their contributions to the Riner community are located at the park’s flag pole.
A new Riner Fire Department station was built on the edge of the park adjacent to Route 8.
Construction of the Riner Fire Station was completed in 2019.
Montgomery County is currently updating the Parks and Recreation Master Plan, a long-range effort that will guide the future of parks and recreation over the next 20 years. The plan aims to establish a shared vision for the Parks and Recreation Department, along with short-term strategies and recommendations that build on existing assets while identifying opportunities to meet evolving community needs.
Community and stakeholder feedback is essential to this process. Montgomery County invites citizens to attend an open house on April 30 to learn more about the plan’s initial recommendations and participate in interactive park design activities.
The open house is April 30 from 4-7 p.m. at the Montgomery County Government Center,755 Roanoke St.
In 2025, Montgomery County celebrated the 50th anniversary of its Parks and Recreation Department. This milestone provided an opportunity to reflect on past accomplishments while launching the master planning process to shape the next generation of parks and recreation services.
As part of this effort, the county conducted a community survey and gathered input through the recently adopted Montgomery Matters Comprehensive Plan. At the April open house, attendees can review community feedback, respond to proposed recommendations, and provide input on current and future park facilities.
