Mary Alice Reporting –
A proposal has been presented to the Claymont School Board of Education regarding the need for ball fields to be turfed.
David DiDonato informed the board that a committee is seeking to raise funds to install the turf on the baseball and softball fields, and the hope is to raise enough for installation to be completed by spring 2025.
He explained that currently, it’s difficult for student athletes to practice, especially at the start of the season, on the fields due to drainage issues. The students instead are going from playing in a gym to a game on a field.
DiDonato asked that Claymont be responsible for the drainage work and other items.
“Seeding and sodding, engineering, and permits as needed, and any extra top soil or dirt.”
The entire project cost is estimated at over $1 million, which includes the infields and outfields, but no add-ons that DiDonato highlighted like cement stabilization, two warm-up mounds, turf double play, and more.
Claymont Superintendent Brian Rentsch noted that having a grass field would still be a problem even if issues were addressed.
“I think that’s the biggest issue. Fixing the drainage so that we can actually have a successful season out there.”
While the committee would like to see the entire project completed at one time, at minimum, DiDonato said they want to have the infields done.
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