Board reviews baseball/softball turf plan: drainage, dugouts and bid timing discussed

A design and construction partner briefed the Strongsville board on plans to renovate the district’s baseball and softball fields, including synthetic turf installation and drainage upgrades, and asked the board for consensus to proceed to bidding.

Chris Tolar, the design partner, said the project focuses on installing synthetic turf, improving grading and subsurface drainage to prevent freeze‑thaw heave, and adding concrete walkways to align field elevations. Dugouts were described as structurally sound and slated for a modest ‘‘facelift’’ rather than wholesale replacement; alternate bidding (fence type, logos, bleacher options) could trim costs. The design includes an 80‑yard multi‑use area for band, football and lacrosse and repositions the outfield fence and scoreboard to fit new geometry.

Administrators and the board discussed timing: bidding and procurement could take several weeks and contracting another month; construction is weather‑dependent and they estimated three to six months on the schedule, with the aim to finish heavy work before winter so the fields would be available for next spring. Board members raised cost‑cutting options (flagpoles, bleacher scale, temporary striping) and agreed administration should finalize scope with the design team, advertise the project and return with bids before awarding a contract.

Jason Kepler, the athletic director, highlighted the expected program benefits: reduced maintenance, more reliable scheduling in wet seasons, and versatility for multiple teams and activities. The board did not vote to award any contract at the work session; staff requested consensus to move forward with final scope and bidding.