Two Ball Fields Done, Two Closer to Completion

Concrete Light Pole Anchor at Sportsplex

Work has been steadily progressing to complete the final two softball fields at the Lamar Sportsplex ever since a final GoCO grant was approved for the City this past spring.  Last week, work was underway to place the final sets of field lights for the third and fourth ball parks.  Each post will hold a crossbar containing four lights.

Lamar Parks and Recreation Director, Rick Akers, was on hand with crews from Lamar Light and Power, installing several 20 foot tall cylindrical cement anchors into a 12 foot hole dug by an auger.  The sides were sufficiently smooth and wide enough to allow a Light and Power crane to lift the anchor base off the ground and then thread it into the hole.  Once positioned, it was braced in place until additional concrete could be poured.  Once that set, the metal pole and lights will be wired and the installation will be completed.

Dugout Awaiting completion

“We have five of these going in around the two fields,” Akers explained and added that one of the finishing touches would be installing sod in the fall.  This saves the city crews from having to continually water the sod during high summer heat and allows the new grass a chance to take root before the next playing season begins.

New Fencing for Fields 3 and 4

Some of the final portions of the completion project included chain link fencing around the fields, backstops and the two dugouts as well as the installation of the two sprinkler systems.  Once preliminary funding was available for the Sportsplex, construction began in 2008 and the first field was completed in time for Lamar to host its first Cal Ripkin World Series games in the summer of 2009.

By Russ Baldwin