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Council workshop narrows options for Hemlock ball fields; infield infill replacement favored
Summary
At an Aug. 10 Green Tree Borough workshop, councilors and recreation representatives discussed three options to address chronic problems at Hemlock 1 and Hemlock 2: recurring infield repairs (~$60,000), full turf replacement (~$1.2 million), or replacing infield infill only (estimated in the low hundreds of thousands). The council agreed to advance engineered specs and pursue public bidding for a 2027 project budget.
Mister Panza opened the workshop by saying the gathering’s purpose was “to come to a resolution of what we should do with our 2 baseball fields, Headlock 1 and Headlock 2.” He laid out three options under consideration: periodic regrowth and dirt work, full turf replacement, or replacing only the infield infill.
Panza described trade-offs among cost, longevity and maintenance and noted past patch repairs had failed to solve drainage problems. He summarized the three options discussed: a recurring dirt/regrowth approach (roughly $60,000 for both fields), a full turf replacement for both fields ("That would cost $1,200,000"), and a middle option to "just replace both infills for about 200 some thousand dollars." The group emphasized the need for clearer, engineered cost estimates before committing taxpayer funds.
Administrator Wilson told the council that engineers should produce bid-ready specs so contractors could bid with confidence. The council signaled support for moving from informal estimates toward a formal public bid package and for including the project in next year’s budget cycle.
The council did not vote on a final construction contract at the workshop; members agreed to have administration and the athletic association refine scope, confirm costs and return with engineered specifications and a recommended budget allocation.
