Elmore asks for grant to fix sports fields

7/24/2002

The village of Elmore hopes to improve baseball diamonds and sports fields at Well Park with money from a state grant.

The village will apply for a $37,540 Ohio NatureWorks grant. The grants will be awarded in May, Mike Netz, a member of the village park board, said.

The state money would help pay for drainage systems at the three baseball diamonds in Well Park off State Street.

“Now the diamonds are swampy,” Mr. Netz said. “You can't play on them when it rains during the season.”

All three diamonds would be regraded, have drainage tile installed, and be tied into a storm sewer. A 4-inch layer of finely crushed stone would be placed over the infields.

Other planned improvements include painting all backstop fences, fixing or replacing player benches, and a parking-lot expansion. The village wants to buy portable outfield fences for the baseball diamonds that could be removed to make room for soccer games on nearby fields.

The NatureWorks grant would provide 75 percent of project costs and the rest would be paid for by the village.