Plans Entering The First Inning Of Baseball Field Construction At FFH

By Kendra Bobowick

Residents walking through the quiet Fairfield Hills streets and glancing toward the old brick façades may have seen the tops of trees drop out of view as recently as June 29 and earlier this week on July 2. Trees were removed to make way for the upcoming demolition of Fairfield House and the clearing of the area that will hold a new 90-foot baseball diamond.

Facing Fairfield House, where demolition will occur over several weeks, O&G Industries Inc Project Manager David Cravanzola pointed past the rooftop saying, “Behind there will be the outfield.” Walking along the front of the building, he stopped at another key spot and pointed toward a section of the crumbling blacktop to reveal where the pitcher’s mound will be. Behind him and nearer to Greenwich House, which faces Fairfield House, he envisions the third-base coach waving a runner to home plate.

But before the outfield, infield, and batter’s box can take shape, Fairfield House must come down.

The demolition will come in stages, Mr Cravanzola explained. Windows and sheetrock will be removed, for example, and other materials that can be reused will be separated before the building is razed.

In recent months Mr Cravanzola has joined the many volunteers and professionals who have worked with the Fairfield Hills Authority toward this day. While standing outside of Fairfield Hills watching the tree work and listening to the grind of heavy machinery, he said, “This makes all the paperwork worth it.”

As trees make way for the leagues eager to plan their batting order for the new field, Mr Cravanzola confirmed that the building demolition process will begin in the next few weeks. The goal is to have the field in place and seeded by September for use in fall of 2008.

Authority Chairman Robert Geckle said, “They’ll let the grass take in the spring and then use [the field] in the fall.”

The Field

The new, 90-foot ball field going in at Fairfield Hills nearly cost more than planners estimated.

Early in June Mr Cravanzola told the Fairfield Hills Authority, “The bids came in over budget.” Bids for the estimated $822,000 for demolition of Fairfield House, where the field will sit, and abatement combined with field construction came in at slightly more than $1 million from the lowest bidder applying for the work.

Cost savings were in the details, however.

“It’s a lot of little things,” Mr Geckle said. Comparing the planning and estimates to the reality of what is financially possible, he said, “It’s kind of like building a house.” Like a new home, the field plans saw adjustments. Referring to the 90-foot field, he said, “It’s still the same size and location, but some things on the wish list are deferred.”

Mr Cravanzola explained, “We did revisions for some cost savings for the project.” Certain aspects will be pared down, but the field’s size will remain the same, which is what recreation department members had stressed they needed. “They will still have the full, irrigated field,” Mr Cravanzola said. “We have worked hard to give Parks & Rec all they need.”

Provisions for drainage also remain in place. Recreation members were concerned that collected water after a rain would delay field use while teams waited for the field to dry out.

Plans for a conduit and wiring in anticipation of future lighting on the field have also been changed. Mr Cravanzola said, “We were originally going to do conduits, but that will be done separately.” Fencing has also been altered. “We eliminated some,” he said.

Mr Geckle also noted savings found in soil remediation after Fairfield House is razed. “Some estimates came in with the assumption about soil and there is less than anticipated,” he said. Tests for asbestos in the walls also revealed less than anticipated.

A little leeway in the budget will also help the field project. Mr Geckle said that funds exist for cost overruns. Authority member Moira Rodgers placed the project in perspective. During the recent authority meeting she said, “You have to remember that the estimates were done five years ago.”

Overall, Mr Geckle is pleased with progress and eager to see work begin. “The contracts are signed and the train has left the station for site work and the field,” he said.