District Considering Turf for Baseball Field

Concerns over the baseball field’s proximity to the parking lot at the Bridgewater-Raritan High School continues to color discussions over whether changes should be made to the field.

Superintendent of Schools Michael Schilder said the district has already fixed the field where it was uneven in places, and it is currently in OK shape.

“But when it is used for field hockey practice in the summer, it gets torn up again,” he said. “There is no discussion yet about moving the field away from the parking lot.”

Schilder said there are three options for the field at this point. He said they can either continue to repair it to the best of the district’s ability, go with a field that is grass and move it away from the parking lot or design a turf field instead.

Keeping the field as grass, Schilder said, would cost about $750,000.

Moving to turf, Schilder said, would cost $1.5 million.

“Turf is what everyone feels is logical and makes the most sense,” he said.

Schilder said they will be talking to local organizations about fundraising efforts, namely Bridgewater Baseball, which has already committed to $250,000 for a new turf field.

“But that’s a drop in the bucket,” he said, adding that the district is grateful for the commitment.

While the field is still close to the parking lot, Schilder said it is safe, although there are towns outside of the district that may want to avoid playing on it.

Ryan Pearce, a senior at Bridgewater-Raritan High School, said there is also a problem with the backstop at the field.

“Any fly ball can hit a car there,” he said. “If we can get it caged over [that would be good].”

Schilder said the estimates they are looking into do include a whole new backstop and dugout.

Which option for the field do you think is the best solution?