One of the upgrades to Oak Grove Softball Complex includes adding a fourth field.[/caption] At the April 18 Grapevine City Council meeting Council awarded a contract to Valley Quest Designs for the conceptual landscape plan for architectural services, landscape architecture and engineering for the renovations and upgrades to Oak Grove Softball Complex. The project will add a fourth grass field to the complex, upgrade the concession stand area and restroom facility to meet current Americans with Disabilities Act standards and Architectural Barriers Texas Accessibility Standards, add a playground, connect the trails system to the boat ramp and provide a dedicated restroom for the boat ramp. Grapevine Parks and Recreation Director Kevin Mitchell said the upgrades are part of a plan that was made by council in 2007 to redevelop Oak Grove Park, specifically the ball field, soccer and softball complexes. Renovations were made to the ball field and soccer complexes in 2009; however, there was not enough money left for the softball complex. Grapevine-based Kirkman Engineering is also on the design team. Mitchell said the renovations are expected to be complete in time for the spring 2019 season.

New synthetic fields

Oak Grove Ball Field Complex will have four fields with synthetic turf.[/caption] Also at the meeting, council agreed to purchase synthetic turf from Geo Surfaces for the Oak Grove Ballfield Complex. "The turf will allow the fields to remain playable during many rain events that have typically caused cancellation due to wet fields," Mitchell said. "It is very important that recreational and tournament play continue as much as possible because rescheduling typically is not an option due to the large number of teams and short season." This project will remove the existing grass from infields and foul territory on fields A, B, H and I at the Oak Grove Ballfield Complex and replace the grass with synthetic turf. The addition of synthetic turf will solve current issues with the water seepage from the underground spring on the fields. This affects playability in nonweather events. The addition of synthetic turf is a field standard now used on local high school, college and professional fields. Mitchell said the turf will be complete by the start of the fall season.