The Bowling Green Hot Rods announced today that they will make several renovations to Bowling Green Ballpark, including a beer garden, a fun zone for kids, and an updated look for the first base-side entrance.

Here’s more info from the team’s website, interspersed with photos tweeted by the Hot Rods:

Outside, fans won’t have to wait long to see the renovations, as the first-base entry way will sport brand new art honoring Bowling Green’s connections to the car industry, as well as a new baseball graphic above the VIP, suite, and administrative offices entry. An illuminated sign will grace the walkway, which will be repaved with a baseball feel. Fans can enjoy baseball-themed artwork as well as they enter on their left.

This fun new experience will be for all ages, and the renovations inside the ballpark feature a brand new kids zone that will be situated in left field. Parents can take in the game with a tremendous view, just above the bullpen, all while their children experience the new fun zone. The left field berm will feature an improved slope to offer great vantage points of the field no matter where fans are standing. As fans stroll the ballpark, they can look up and see artistic homage paid to the Hot Rods, and Bowling Green’s connection to the auto industry.

The social aspect of coming to Bowling Green Ballpark will be greatly enhanced with the addition of the beer garden down the first-base line near right field. Fans can enjoy a barbeque sandwich, or any of the delicious new concession items courtesy of the new food provider, Professional Sports Catering. Hot Rods fans can expect this to become part of the new exciting downtown experience, and it will be a great place to have a drink during the game. New lighting will provide a homely atmosphere atop the sections by the beer garden, and around the park.

The announcement comes just two months after the Hot Rods got a new owner, Manhattan Capital Sports Acquisition, headed by Stuart Katzoff. The Hot Rods have 15 years left on their 20-year lease with Bowling Green Ballpark.

The changes should greatly enhance the fan experience at Bowling Green Ballpark. Here are some photos I shot of the soon-to-be revamped entryway during my visit to BGB in 2011:

The left field berm where the new kids zone will be was a patio area when I visited in 2011. Here is the view of the field from there.

Here is the view of the scoreboard from the LF berm, starring 2011 Hot Rod/2013 Miami Marlin Derek Dietrich …

… and here is the enclosed bullpen the kids zone will be above:

Bowling Green Ballpark is one of only two Midwest League stadiums with enclosed bullpens. The other is Fox Cities Stadium, home of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.

Another fun fact about Bowling Green Ballpark is its press box is located on the third-base side of the stadium instead of behind home plate. Here is the view from the press box, looking toward home plate:

I don’t have a good photo of where the beer garden will be located, but it looks like it will be near the entrance to the team store (which is spacious, incidentally).

Finally, for those who don’t know what Bowling Green’s connection to the car industry is, here is a photo of what likely is the biggest out-of-town draw to the Kentucky city:

Yes, the National Corvette Museum is located in Bowling Green — thus the team name “Hot Rods.” Bowling Green is where GM builds Corvettes, and you can tour the assembly plant for $7 (or free for current GM employees, GM retirees, and active military personnel). I’m not a car nut, but I still found both the museum and the assembly plant interesting to tour.

* All photos by Craig Wieczorkiewicz/The Midwest League Traveler except for renderings of ballpark renovations.