It’s still relatively new, but the City of Bridgeport is making sure its Recreation Complex remains up to date and in top shape. Most recently, a project costing tens of thousands of dollars was completed that has greatly enhance the look and the play of the baseball fields.

 

According to Bridgeport Parks and Recreation Deputy Director Joe Shuttleworth, the contractor that did the laser grading of fields at both City Park and the Rec Complex recently helped do away with the exposed crushed limestone warning track area on the fields in the wagon wheel complex.

 

Playing Surface Solutions out of Pennsylvania laid down the crushed brick material that was already in place along the heavily utilized batter box path at the facility. Shuttleworth said the work came out impressive and that those who begin utilizing the fields early next year will notice the difference.

 

“We covered the remainder of the foul line and the warning track using the crushed limestone that was there before as the base. That limestone created problems because it migrated easily, was always in the grass, allowed footprints and divots and among other issues,” said Shuttleworth. “The brick product can actually be rolled and compacted with no problem. Aesthetically, it looks a hundred times better.”

 

While the project was just recently completed, it’s not the first time it’s been discussed. Bridgeport City Council considered funding it a year ago, but the cost was too high for the project. Things changed when Playing Solutions was doing the laser grading and putting in the same brick material in the batter box areas from the dugouts to home plate.

 

“We already had the infields done with the brick last fall and they explained to us that we didn’t have to remove all the limestone gravel that was there and instead we could use it as the base by compacting it down prior to putting the brick over it,” said Shuttleworth. “That dropped the cost significantly.”

 

Shuttleworth said the entire project was roughly $23,000.

 

“Now the fields look more uniform all the way around and they look professional. It’s the same type of material you see, particularly leading up to batter’s boxes, at professional parks like PNC,” said Shuttleworth.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Parks and Recreation Director Don Burton watching Playing Surface Solutions install the brick tracks around the baseball fields at the Recreation Complex, while bottom photo shows the company getting ready to pour another load of hte material into the spreader.