Despite Weather, Work Ongoing at Baseball Fields at The Bridge as Turf, Upgrades Part of "Major Facelift"
By Jeff Toquinto on December 06, 2023
Cold weather, rain, and even the occasional dusting of snow and ice has interrupted multiple activities throughout the area. However, it has not stopped the contractors with FieldTurf USA from continuing its project at The Bridge.
Since summer, work has been taking place to replace the four baseball infields at The Bridge with the artificial FieldTurf. That work is still going strong, according to The Bridge General Manager Droo Callahan.
“Things are going in a really positive direction, but we did have some electrical issues we had to deal with that us back about a week,” said Callahan recently. “Turf should be down by mid-December.”
The turf project comes in a $1.3 million. Additional work, which was approved by Council in September, involves installation of new backstops and safety netting that was not to exceed $500,000. However, Callahan and Parks and Recreation Director Joe Shuttleworth were fairly certain the cost would be much lower than that.
Additional work is also being done that will push the total project into the $2 million range. Callahan said new fencing, awnings, work on the press box, restrooms, flags, foul poles, scoreboards, and more are part of the project.
“A lot of that we’re doing ourselves,” said Callahan.
During the September meeting, both Shuttleworth and Callahan were confident everything would be in order for the start of the 2024 baseball season. The Bridge’s four-field, wagon-wheel layout has hosted well over 100 
tournaments since opening in 2012 and draws teams not only from across West Virginia, but teams from multiple other states.
tournaments since opening in 2012 and draws teams not only from across West Virginia, but teams from multiple other states.
Teams and their supporters arriving for the first time this year, or coming back, will be treated to a fresh look at the decade-plus-old athletic facility. The facility opened in April of 2012.
“Obviously, this is a major facelift to the entire complex, and one that was needed,” Callahan said.
Editor's Note: Top two photos show contractors working in windy and snowy conditions to get the fields ready for their new look. Bottom photo, taken from the press box, shows the prep work being done prior to the turf being installed.
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