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Bradley County weighs $4.79M–$5.38M plan to turf 22 baseball and softball infields
Summary
County officials reviewed a Baseline Sports Construction proposal to convert 22 infields to Shaw TruHop synthetic turf, with an estimated cost of $4,789,000–$5,375,000 and a proposed phased installation. Officials referred financing questions to the Finance Committee and placed a CDBG application on the upcoming Voting Session agenda.
Bradley County commissioners and staff reviewed a proposal to replace 22 baseball and softball infields at county parks with synthetic turf systems, a project Baseline Sports Construction estimated at $4,789,000 to $5,375,000, inclusive of a ±12.5% contingency. The proposal was presented during commission/finance meetings the week of Feb. 9–12, 2026.
Baseline representative Steve Clift outlined a scope that includes engineering, demolition and export of existing infields, installation of drainage and stone base, concrete curbing, and installation of Shaw Sports Turf’s TruHop synthetic system with sand and rubber infill, field markings and base anchors. Shaw representative Jake McIntosh described TruHop as designed to mimic grass playability and said the company expects a 10–12 year useful life under normal use; Baseline offered seam repairs and guidance for field signage and prohibited use of steel cleats.
Bradley County Parks and Recreation Director Andy Lockhart told commissioners the spring recreation season (March–mid‑May) can be scheduled around a construction window. County Mayor D. Gary Davis said financing would likely require a mix of county capital (HCI) funds, grant awards and borrowing; he and staff proposed phasing the work (Bradley North first, Blue Springs in Summer 2026, and Elrod Park and Urbane Road by Summer 2027) to spread costs.
A motion recorded in the committee packet to "investigate finance options for two separate turf projects" passed recorded committee votes 3‑2 (mover: Commissioner Louie Alford; second: Commissioner Denny Collins). Chair Alford referred project financing to the Finance Committee and asked the County Attorney to draft a contract for Commission consideration. At a separate commission work session, Mayor Davis presented a draft resolution authorizing application for up to $1,000,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and committing a required 17% local match; that resolution was placed on the Feb. 17 voting session agenda.
Opposition and support were both recorded: Commissioner Cindy Slater expressed opposition to using taxpayer funds (as paraphrased in the minutes), while at least one member of the public, Aaron Weatherford, spoke in support. The minutes and proposal materials in the packet include cost estimates, a preliminary construction schedule, and product specifications; the Baseline document also warns that pricing could change if site conditions require additional work. The proposal materials are included in the packet for commission review.
Next steps: the Finance Committee will review financing options and the County Attorney will draft contract language; the project may become a formal commission vote at a future session after the Finance Committee and the Mayor’s office complete the financing plan.
