The new Central Sports Complex in Independence is a complete reconstruction of the rec league baseball and softball fields on Park Boulevard.

 The fields that will be refurbished are Bicentennial, Jaycee, Hugo, Sinclair, and Clark James fields. Most Independence residents probably have a fair idea of where most of those field names originated, but one might be more difficult, even for those native to the city.

 

Clark James Field was named for the first man from Independence who was killed in action in World War II. Here is his story.