October 26, 2023 |
Photo – Laser grading the Rawlins baseball field – Courtesy Rawlins Parks and Rec
The Rawlins Parks and Recreation Department is working on improvements to the city’s baseball fields.
The Little League fields at the VFW and the Generals baseball field at the sports complex need improvements to make them ready to host future games. This week, Golf and Sport Solutions, out of La Salle, Colorado, has been working to make the fields playable again.
Rawlins Parks and Recreation Director Jason Sehon said for the past couple years, city employees and volunteers have worked to get the baseball fields back into a playable condition.
Since Monday, Golf and Sport Solutions has been laser grading the baseball fields and laying down a special dirt, called infield mix. Sehon said parks crews must maintain the infield mix every year. The parks and rec director said the special dirt mixture is crucial to creating a proper playing surface.
Sehon said not long after taking the parks and rec director position two years ago, he pledged to fix the city’s baseball fields. Sehon said he has been searching for funding to completely redo the turf. The parks and rec director said thanks to the city council and several grants, he has been able to find the money needed to improve three of the Little League fields and the baseball field at the sports complex.
Using the money, Sehon was able to hire Golf and Sport Solutions to work on the fields. The parks and rec director said the company came highly recommended.
Sehon said Golf and Sport Solutions should complete three of the four Little Leagues fields at the VFW and the Generals baseball field at the sports complex by tomorrow. The parks and rec director said the company is ensuring the fields are properly redone.
Sehon said with the ballfields back to square one, so to speak, parks crews will have an easier time maintaining the grass. The parks and rec director said he’ll ensure everyone is properly trained on how to keep the ballfields in playing condition from now on.
Sehon said parks crews will spend the next few years adding compost to the outfield grass and seeding and watering the turf. The parks and rec director said he plans to have the VFW fields ready for a proposed state-wide Little League tournament in 2026. Sehon said he’s still trying to raise money to pay for needed building improvements before the tournament can happen.
Sehon wanted to thank the people who worked to get the fields into the condition they are in now. The parks and rec director said volunteers provided essential assistance to city staff.
The Rawlins city council has been debating on what to use this year’s Wyoming Community Gas grant for. Earlier in the month, Sehon requested the council approve the entire $11,322.90 to finish preparing the Little League fields for the 2026 tournament. During the October 17th city council meeting, it appeared that the council members were leaning toward spending the money on a new scoreboard for the Generals baseball field at the sports complex instead. The council is likely to make their decision as to how to spend the Wyoming Community Gas grant during their November 7th meeting.
