Kennewick is moving toward synthetic turf at balls fields. Southridge is up first

The Southridge balls fields will feel very different by the time spring sports begin. That’s because the city of Kennewick is set to rip the infield out at the baseball fields and lay synthetic turf.

The change is expected to help extend playing seasons, reduce upkeep and make the fields more versatile.

The Kennewick City Council was expected Tuesday night to approve a bid to remove the current infield and replace it with a gravel base. The gravel is being put in place to prepare the field for the turf.

Kennewick Parks Director Nick Farline told the Herald that they’re replacing just the infield, and the outfields will remain grass.

The estimated cost of the entire project is $1.45 million, but Kennewick Parks Director Nick Farline said they hope to finish the project under budget. Already they’re looking to save about $100,000 on the initial estimate for the dirt removal and gravel with a bid of $197,000 from C Watts Trucking.

Farline previously told the council that the project will eventually pay for itself thanks to much lower upkeep and maintenance costs. Currently, parks workers have to be on hand for every use and restripe the diamonds between games.

The turf also will allow other uses for the fields, such as youth soccer without danger of tearing it up.

It also removes a huge chunk of maintenance without the need for weekly mowing and line trimming, and monthly edging. The synthetic turf only needs to be groomed about once per year with semi-annual as needed repairs.

Parks planning

Lawrence Scott Park could also see its infields turned into turf, but that could be years out if approved.

The parks department recently presented council members with a new 6-year comprehensive parks plan showing their priorities and estimated costs.

The ball fields at Lawrence Scott were on the list for a turf replacement as well, at a cost of about $1.2 million.

That’s not all they’re hoping to do at Lawrence Scott, though.

The basketball courts are due to be resurfaced at a cost of $600,000.

Also, $1.8 million in a building renovation, concrete replacement and new field lighting are on their list of requests and a new destination playground and entrance for $750,000.

In all, the parks department wants to spend about $4.4 million at Lawrence Scott between 2024 and 2029.

Other major items on the master plan include splash pad replacements at Columbia Center Estates Park and Highland Grange Park, playground and surface replacement at Horse Heaven Hills Park and a feasibility study for the future of the city’s public pool.

The immediate needs addressed in the comprehensive plan come with a price tag of about $10 million.

Kennewick has 25 developed parks ranging in size from the 0.06-acre Jay Perry Park to the 431-acre Columbia Park.

The most recent updates to the park system have been the opening of Kason’s Korner accessible play equipment at the Toyota of Tri-Cities Playground of Dreams in Columbia Park last month.

Dog park

What’s not on the new comprehensive plan is a dog park. That’s because it was already partially funded.

The parks department has been hard at work narrowing down locations, and they seem close to settling on a 5-acre portion on the east end of Columbia Park near the Family Fishing Pond.

The location wouldn’t have issues with getting neighbors on board, and has adequate parking and infrastructure in place, officials have said.

The last major hurdle to making it happen is clearing the idea with the Army Corps of Engineers and other community partners because the city leases Columbia Park from the Corps and has agreements to work with local tribes for any changes made along the waterfront.

If approved they’ll also need to supplement the money set aside for the dog park, $225,000, to meet the estimated $307,000 cost of making it a reality at this location.

The park would have separate areas for large dogs and small, though specific details for the breakdown at Columbia Park haven’t yet been discussed.

The major components needed to transform the open area to a dog park would be installing fencing, benches, water stations and other miscellaneous amenities.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to clarify that the city is only planning to replace infields.