Work progresses on Max Long fields

Work is well under way at the Max Long Recreation Complex to tear out and resurface Field numbers 2 and 4, which are the smaller fields, to improve drainage and eliminate safety hazards.

Dixie Youth Baseball developed a five-year plan to improve the city's sports complex and received the support of the city council and the Highlands County Recreation and Parks Advisory Committee (R-PAC) for additional funding.

The Highlands County Board of County Commissioners voted Tuesday and approved an R-PAC recommendation to give $27,000 to help pay for the improvements.

"Our $27,000 is strictly a reimbursement," said Vicki Pontius, county parks and recreation director. "The city has to pay for the products and the county will reimburse them."

The work is scheduled to be finished and ready for opening day on Feb. 15, 2010.

One of the main concerns to officials was a safety issue for the players, Pontius said.

A new clay-to-grass interface should eliminate a hazard for players where ground balls can take an unusual and sometimes dangerous hop. As it stands, "lips" form where grass meets clay, causing the problem.

"It should no longer be an issue," said Jim Higgins in a previous report. Higgins is the city's golf course superintendent, also in charge of Max Long.

"We're going to re-grade the fields for drainage," he said.

Higgins said Wednesday they are removing and stockpiling the old clay.

"Because it is a very high-quality clay," he said. Then they will add sand, till it and laser level the field before adding irrigation and rolls of sod.

"It will be an all-grass infield with clay base circles," said Higgins.

Drainage has been a big problem in the last couple of years. This year, during city and district tournament time, hours were spent raking, shoveling and trying to divert water off the fields so the tournament could be played.

"A few years ago we did infield improvements but we didn't match up the infield and the outfields too well, which created drainage problems," Higgins said earlier.

The league proposed a three-way partnership between Dixie Youth Baseball, the city and the county to get the work done.

The city agreed on Nov. 17 to put up $18,000 for irrigation, fill dirt, cutting and removing old sod, pre-planting fertilizer, labor and equipment. It also gave the league permission to approach the R-PAC board, that in-turn approached the county.

Dixie Youth Baseball will put up $5,000 of in-kind service.

The league asked the R-PAC board on Nov. 19 to put up the $27,000 for rough and finish grading, sod purchase, sod installation and drainage materials.

Originally the league was to approach R-PAC for $18,000 but it was decided the two 30-year-old backstops needed to be replaced for safety with 20-foot fencing, stronger bracing and a three-foot incline behind home plate.

"It improves the safety factor," Higgins said.

The total project cost was listed at $50,000.

The board also has been working on other long-term improvements to the complex, which could include new bleachers, dugouts, safety netting to protect spectators from foul balls and many other possibilities.

The facility is used by hundreds of local youth and their parents almost every month of the year.

Dixie Youth Baseball Sebring has about 35 teams with 350 to 380 players from ages 4 to just before they enter high school, not including players from visiting teams. Tournaments are held there that also attract players and fans from across the state.