That was just the latest youth sports league to benefit from an $11.6 million project that provided new turf for baseball, soccer and other sports.
Fince Espinoza, Southlake Parks and Recreation deputy director of community services, provided an overview of the project during the Nov. 19 Southlake City Council meeting.
The details
Southlake City Council approved a $11.6 million vendor and member agreement with GeoSurfaces during an Oct. 17, 2023, meeting.
The agreement was for the purchase and installation of synthetic turf, ballfield fencing and amenities at Bicentennial Park and Bob Jones Park, according to project details.
The fields that received turf and fencing improvements include:
- Fields 5-7 at Bicentennial Park; turf only for Field 3
- Softball fields 3-6 at Bob Jones Park
- Turf only for multipurpose sports fields 4-6 at Bob Jones Park
- New fencing, dugouts and backstop work on baseball and softball fields
Espinoza said the project was a collaborative effort between the city, Southlake Girls Softball Association, Dragon Youth Baseball Association, Grapevine-Southlake Soccer Association and Miracle League.
Quote of Note
“I know some of the fields took a little longer than we expected, but it's been a great project,” Mayor Shawn McCaskill said of the project, which was paid for in cash.
The setup
The city website said the project was done for multiple reasons, which included turf fields can drain quickly to allow for play throughout the year, have lower maintenance costs than grass fields and do not require mowing, watering or irrigation.
Espinoza said the Parks and Recreation Department will do regular maintenance and rehab the turf during the winter months. Ribbon-cutting ceremonies will happen in the spring of 2025, he said.
In their own words
“Thank you to the Mayor and council and city management for allowing us to perform this project for the community,” Espinoza said. “It's a fantastic asset that's not very common. We're going to have a lot of less rainouts and more happy faces.”
