After years of wear and tear, Community Field 1, the home for the Berkley Bears Program, is undergoing much-needed renovations that should be ready for the 2025 baseball season.
The renovation and improvements were made possible through an agreement between the City of Berkley, the Berkley Dads Club, and the Berkley School District. The city owns the field, and it is used by both the school district and Dad’s Club.
Dave Schmidt, President of the Dad’s Club, described the scope of the project.
“The entire field, including the outfield, was removed and bulldozed, and laser graded to create the correct pitch for drainage,” Schmidt said. “Over 800 feet of drain tile was installed to allow the excess water to drain off the field. A new irrigation system was installed for the infield and outfield. Dura Edge infield mix was installed, and a sport-specific sod was put in that will allow the grass to be cut short and withstand all the games played on the field.”
The baseball field renovations began in October after a year of planning following an $88 million school bond that was approved in August 2023. The improvements will make a huge difference not just for the players, but for the families and the community. The field itself will make it more fun and safe for the players to play, and the new seating area, bathrooms, and concession stands, will make it more entertaining for the families and the community, which is exciting for the Berkley Bears baseball team.
“The new improvements to Community Field 1 are very exciting for the Berkley baseball program,” said BHS Varsity Baseball Coach Todd Dunfield. “I feel there should be a sense of pride when playing on your home field. Having a well-maintained playing surface makes players enthusiastic to come to the park every day where they can practice and play.”
The improved field will not only benefit the Bears baseball program, but also the Berkley Dad’s Club, which plays on the field during the summer and fall months.
“The Dad’s Club has been instrumental over the years in gaining interest and developing young players to give Berkley High School a tremendous feeder system for the program,” said Dunfield. “The combination of all three (City, Dad’s Club, and School District) shows how much they care about our student-athletes and the future of the program.”
Schmidt hopes the improvements are just the beginning of the upgrades at Community Field 1. Schmidt said the Dad’s Club has created a fundraising committee in an effort to seek more resources and hopes to continue to partner with the District and City. He hopes that additional phases of improvement over the next two years will include an updated backstop, scoreboard, dugouts, bullpens, and fencing, along with a new scorer’s booth, concession stands, and concrete.
“The continued improvements to the project will help improve the level of performance for the players. It will also get more interest and retention of our athletes to want to stay in Berkley for their entire career,” Dunfield said. “I feel that it will also encourage more people to come to the games and have a better atmosphere for people in the community to come out and support the games. This will in turn improve the experience for the players.”
The district is also excited about improvements planned for the Bears Softball program. Superintendent Scott Francis said in a statement: “This is our district home field for our baseball teams and any improvements we can make to our students’ experiences are greatly appreciated. While we look forward to an improved baseball field, we are equally excited to build a new varsity softball field on district property in the near future.”
As the final touches are put on the renovations, Community Field 1 is set to become more than just a place to host games, but a center point for the community.
