City begins renovations at Lake Fayetteville softball complex

FAYETTEVILLE — Renovations are officially underway at Lake Fayetteville’s softball complex.

City officials gathered Tuesday morning for a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the beginning of a $2.7 million project that includes several improvements to the 48-year-old complex, which mostly serves the city’s adult recreational leagues and an occasional youth tournament.

The work calls for replacing the complex’s three dirt fields with synthetic turf, adding new dugouts and fencing, and improving the spectator areas.

The project also includes improvements to the area’s storm drainage infrastructure, which officials said is long overdue.

Byron Humphry, the city’s parks maintenance superintendent, said rain has a tendency to wash out the fields which can cause game cancellations. He said between the drainage upgrades and the artificial turf – which dries quickly – the area should be much more playable after a storm.

Humphry said he’s personally looking forward to the improvements, as the fields have hosted softball games for three generations of his family.

“Long before I worked for the city, this area was my first introduction to playing softball,” said Humphry.

The council in October approved a $146,780 contract with Crafton Tull for design of the project. Crossland Heavy Contractors was hired in March for $38,950 for construction management of the project.

Money for the project comes from the parks bond issue voters approved in 2019.

Humphry said if enough funds remain, the plan is to also make some improvements to the lighting at the complex.