Oregon OKs improvements on Ousky Field

By: 
Kelly J. Kaczala

        Oregon will pay $634,966.64 to Maumee Bay Turf Center, Oregon, for artificial turf and other improvements for Ousky Field and Diamond No. 2 at the Coontz Recreation Complex.
        Besides artificial turf, the amount will also cover a portable pitch mound at Ousky and new dugouts for Field or Diamond No. 2.
        During the 2019 budget process, council discussed the possibility of moving forward with artificial turf for Ousky Field and Diamond No. 2. The Recreation Department was asked to explore possibilities and cost options and possible partnerships during 2019. As a result of that analysis and discussions with the Recreation Department Committee, the city recommended moving forward with artificial turf for the diamonds.
        “Some of the council members have asked me, “Will this save money or cost money?” said City Administrator Mike Beazley. “In our analysis, it will cost a little bit more per year to have artificial turf than natural grass, but not a lot more. So the question for council is, “What are we buying for that?”
         
Improving drainage
        The primary benefit of artificial turf is improving drainage, which reduces rainouts and increases playable days. The fields will be immediately ready to use after a rain. A secondary benefit is that turf requires less maintenance and staff preparation. Another benefit is the availability for additional rental opportunities because of not having to wait for the fields to dry.
        “And there is the ability to continue to bring energy to the rec department and tell people Oregon is on the cutting edge,” said Beazley. “It does cost a little more, but we have a surface now that will take some considerable investment to upgrade. We have all known for some time we’ve had to do something with our dugouts and ball diamonds and the backstop out there. They are not really playable for high level softball. There’s been a general consensus that we’re going to have to invest in those facilities. So some of those costs are imbedded in this as well.”
        Long term, the costs for artificial turf are not substantially greater than the cost of grass diamonds when necessary maintenance and staffing are factored in.
        “Overall, the costs will be anywhere from $5,000 to $25,000 more per year over a 10 year period,” said Beazley,  “depending upon what choices we make downstream to have artificial turf versus natural grass. Natural grass isn’t free. It takes more maintenance. It is slightly more expensive to have artificial turf. But it’s not radically more expensive”
       
Sticker shock
        While the cost of the improvements is a “sticker shocker,” Beazley said the project will “pay for itself over 10 years due to lower maintenance expenses, less challenges and more opportunities.
        “The center provided a quote for the purchase of synthetic baseball turf on Ousky Field and Field No. 2, a portable pitch mound for Ousky, and new dugouts for Field No. 2. The quote uses the TIPS purchasing program.
        Along with the benefits of installing artificial turf, it was considered  important to upgrade the backstop for Field No. 2 and to shift the location of the dugouts. This will improve play for recreation events and high school softball.
        Councilman Terry Reeves, who got the project rolling as chairman of the Recreation & Parks Committee, said there will be “much more excitement from people wanting to come here and play.”
        “It’s going to draw other people into wanting to use our facilities,” he said.
        “Our student athletes who are in the Oregon system will be extremely excited to play on that knowing there will be fewer rainouts,” he added.
       
School partnership
        The Oregon City Schools District is interested in partnering with the city and contributing $100,000 over the first two years of the project. Oregon council appropriated $150,000 for baseball diamond upgrades as part of the 2019 municipal budget. Remaining is $384,966.64 that would need to be allocated, along with the $50,000 that would come from the Oregon City Schools system next year.
        Councilwoman Kathleen Pollauf was not pleased by the cost of the project.
        “I have to admit, the sticker shock was big for me. That’s a big number. Is there a commitment yet from Oregon schools or is it just a wish?”
        “They have made a significant commitment to be a part of this project,” said Council President Dennis Walendzak.
        “When I first looked at all the expense and what it entailed, I thought it was a big number. But knowing now there’s a partnership, it makes it a lot easier for me to digest all of this,” said Pollauf.
        “I’ll support this,” said Councilwoman Sandy Bihn, “but I’d like to remind people that to have a boat ramp by Harbor View I think would add another “Wow” factor to the community and to have the ability to put a big boat in the water, which we do not currently have. Coincidentally, I think it will have the same price tag for us in the end we might be facing. Hopefully, people will support that as well as baseball.”
        Beazley has been working on a boat launch project for years.
        “I have a meeting about that at 8:00 tomorrow morning,” said Beazley.
       
Overview
        Tim Borton, commissioner of parks and recreation, gave an overview of the project.
        “On Ousky, we will be doing synthetic turf on the infield only. So we’ll turf the infield. Right now, that’s our hardest field to get ready after a rain. This system will allow it to drain quickly so we can get back to playing the games quickly. In addition to turfing the field, we’re going to redo the backstop with new poles and a netting system. There will be a concrete stamped wall for aesthetic value. It will make it easier for the fans to watch the game through a netting system as opposed to a chain linked fence that we have now,” said Borton.
        “On Diamond 2, it’s going to be a little more cosmetic. We’re going to remove the two dugouts that are currently there and replace them with new dugouts, but move those dugouts a bit farther down the line and kind of flip flop the dugouts and the bleachers so the fans are not trying to look through the dugouts. They’ll have a view through the fence to the field. We’re also going to expand the infield area by moving some poles back a little bit. And then we’ll have a new backstop that goes up into the air - not the overhang we have right now.”
        The infields will have the artificial surface. The outfields will continue to be natural grass.
       
       
 
 
       
         
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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