There are few sights that capture the heart of summer quite like a small-town ball game — the crack of the bat, kids sprinting around the bases, families packed into the bleachers, and little ones running barefoot nearby with popsicles dripping down their arms.
Every summer, dozens of games are played at City Park in Flandreau. Families pour in from across the area — and from out of town — to catch weekly games and weekend tournaments.
And while the park has plenty to brag about, especially the Teener field where kids from ages 6U to 19U typically play, there’s one thing that could make the experience even better: a working scoreboard. That much, everyone at the most recent Flandreau City Council meeting seemed to agree on.
Right now, the old scoreboard still shows the score and innings, but the ball, strike, and out displays haven’t worked in years. Despite the best efforts to keep it running, the bulbs and parts needed to fix it are either no longer made or nearly impossible to find.

Chris Wiese, representing the Flandreau Baseball Association, went before City Council last week to ask for help funding a new scoreboard for the Teener field. The two other fields at the park already have updated, working scoreboards.
“I realize a scoreboard isn’t a necessity for playing baseball or softball but it adds to the game atmosphere that we present at the park,” said Wiese.
“We have countless people coming from out of town each summer for baseball games and tournaments and they comment on how nice our park is and they appreciate coming to our park on those evenings and a new scoreboard would cement our presence as what we as a community present for out of towners during those times.”
Each year, about 115 kids sign up to play baseball in the 6U–19U age groups, and the number of girls playing softball keeps growing — with more than 60 currently involved. The Teener field alone hosts around 50 games every summer, between regular league games and tournament play.
Because the scoreboard has a 60-day production and delivery window, the Baseball Association has already gone ahead and purchased it — confident it’ll be a great investment for the kids and the park overall.
The new Daktronics scoreboard comes at a cost of $5,665 and should be up and running early this summer.
Wiese said the scoreboard adds more than just numbers — it adds pride to the game and to the place. And visitors often take note of what a nice park and venue Flandreau has to offer.
Council members agreed it was a worthwhile request and voted to reimburse the cost. If funds are available, the city will cover it through the 2025 budget. If not, the funds will be allocated in the 2026 budget.