Minnie & Lovie Ward Recreation Center Fields

Site Background

The fields at Minnie Lovie Recreation Center are in poor condition. They suffer from an antiquated irrigation system, garbage dumping, busy gophers, and insufficient gardening staff. The current field layout is rectangular in shape and hosts numerous ball and ground sport athletics. The approximate area of the field is 267,000 square feet. There is a varsity baseball diamond located in the southeast corner, a softball/ little league size diamond in the south west corner while soccer and other ground sports athletics are played between the two. 

These fields are currently enclosed on three sides by rusting chain link fence varying in height from 10 feet to 20 feet. The northern edge of the field is bound by retaining walls. Each baseball field is comprised by a backstop, players benches and spectator bleachers. Just south of the fields is a sloped landscape area which has an approximate 10 feet grade change between the field and the perimeter sidewalk.

General Park Renovations

• Replace rusting fences to east, west, and south with new black vinyl fencing
• Replace bleacher seating behind baseball/ softball diamonds
• Remove cargo container at the western park entrance
• Modify the existing retaining wall in north-east field corner to help retain hillside soil
• Install new:
  • Benches
  • Bike racks
  • Drinking fountains
  • Recycling cans
  • Trash
• Upgrade the irrigation and planting at primary entries and along the southern hillside
• Refurbish the perimeter pedestrian walkway around the field
• Improve any infrastructure to comply with Americans with Disabilities (ADA) requirements

Planned Field Renovations

• Grade field and replace the natural grass playing field with a synthetic turf field
• Installation of new storm drainage infrastructure below the synthetic turf
• Install 12 field lights for evening play. 2 at 60 feet, 4 at 70 feet and 6 at 80 feet
• Maintain the two ball diamonds in their current configuration. The both infields will utilize synthetic turf with the exception of the verify field which will have a clay pitchers mound
• Line ground sport fields for: 
  • Football yard markers
  • Men’s and women’s lacrosse
  • Rugby
  • Soccer
  • Volleyball
• Replace rusted baseball/softball backstops and baseball dugout areas
• Install new perimeter fencing around three sides of the field at an average height of 16 feet

Projected Use

The proposed renovations will more than double the amount of play on the field. Currently Minnie Lovie can host 1,796 hours of annual play on the soccer field or 3,580 hours on the baseball/softball diamonds. The renovation will increase those hours to 5,365 hours of ground sports play, or 3,570 hours of new baseball/softball play.