BELLEFONTE — If things go to plan, the Governors Park baseball field will be much improved before opening day 2023. During a Bellefonte Borough Council work session, Theodore Thwing, from construction firm Weber Murphy Fox, gave on update on what people can expect from the project.
The ball field is home to the Bellefonte Area High School baseball team and hosts other games and tournaments.
“This field, from what I understand, it works, but it has some issues with drainage, and so the primary objective of the project is to improve the playability of the field so that it can be used more frequently,” said Thwing, in sharing the firm’s plan for the field.
The plan includes adding a synthetic turf system that has an under-drainage system to allow for quicker drainage.
Other additions includes a press box behind home plate, sunken dugouts that are ADA accessible, two bullpens and some bleacher-style seating.
The field would be rotated six degrees to take a rocky area just outside of play along the right field foul line further out of play.
Weber Murphy Fox plans to finalize a construction document for the project by the end of the month, with a goal to go out to bid in September, then start construction in October so the field will be ready to go in April.
Thwing said the field will be prioritized during the construction phase to make sure that it will be ready to go for the beginning of the season.
“The other elements, of course we would like to have completed too, before the first game, which is why we are going out to bid this year in September, if all goes as planned,” said Thwing.
The project is being funded by a state grant.
Lights were not included in the original plans, but if there is funding left after the project is set out to bid, it is something that would be considered.
“If we have extra funds, we can always do lighting as an add-on,” said Borough Manager Ralph Stewart.
Mayor Buddy Johnson said that the field was the talk of a baseball tournament over the weekend that brought in teams from as far away as New York.
“They are very excited to have an updated baseball facility in a beautiful setting. … This is going to be a huge benefit to the community. People have already reached out to say, ‘I would really like to rent that field or have a tournament,’” said Johnson.
He added, “This project addresses not only the needs for the athletes who use the field, but the spectators as well” by making the field more visible for those sitting at the pavilion near the field.
This story appears in the Aug. 18-24 edition of The Centre County Gazette.
