[2] Faced with an aging ballpark and limited funds, Valentine began to promote the historic nature of Ray Winder Field.

He promoted the home of the Arkansas Travelers as "A great place to see old-time baseball, wholesome entertainment aimed squarely at the family market."

Ray Winder Field sat vacant for almost five years while forces outside of organized baseball determined the future of this historic ballpark.

proposed demolishing the historic ballpark in order to utilize the area as a parking lot for the nearby University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

The Arkansas Zoological Foundation wanted the Little Rock Zoo to expand into Ray Winder by refitting the grandstand as a viewing area for an Asian elephant exhibit.

During all of these discussions, the underlying atmosphere from the City of Little Rock was one of disinterest and apathy, with no apparent recognition of the park's historic ties to baseball's golden era, and no interest in assisting in the landmark ballpark's preservation.

On July 12, 2012 the score board and the light poles were left standing while the rest of the park and all other structure were torn down and removed, and the ground paved over.