Baseball Field Problems Continue to Plague Moon School District

Members of the Moon Area School Board said problems persist at the district's new baseball field. 

One resident, Bob Shields, of Moon Township, asked board members if the field will open in time for the spring season. 

Representatives from Eckles Engineering and Architecture assured board members in September that the field would be up to par for spring play. 

Work to the district's baseball and softball fields were a part of major facility overhauls in the district, including the construction of a new high school and renovation of a new middle school.

Officials say the field has been marred by problems since it was turned over to the district earlier this year. The field does not drain properly, has uneven grading and improperly placed dugouts, board members said. 

Bill Cook, project architect at New Castle-based firm JC Pierce, advised the board that athletic field installer S&S Processing believes treating the right field with top dressing will correct the problems.

The board moved to not move forward with further repairs at the field until exploring other options. 

"We have to keep in mind the importance of the field's performance," Board member Jerry Testa said. "Even if we get the field back to the condition it was meant to be in, that might not be good enough, because we don't know much about its original design." 

Testa advised the board to consider performance bonds and hiring attorneys to address ongoing repairs at the field.  

The board also approved change orders for its middle school renovation at an increased cost of $20,459.

Sound off in the comments: Are you concerned about the status of Moon Area High School's baseball field?