Big League Dreams Dirt Will Fly

We have been watching the construction trailers setting up next to Highland Groves, and hearing about their preparations to start the grading process for construction of Big League Dreams; and I think it will begin very soon this month. If you need a recap of what the park will involve, the Gilbert Independent has its article detailing that this week:

Play ball!

That's the call for baseball and softball enthusiasts by the Gilbert Town Council, with its Jan. 11 approval of $33.5 million for the construction of a Big League Dreams ballpark complex at Elliot District Park, Elliot and Power roads.

A 55-acre chunk of Elliot Park will accommodate the eight ball fields, built as scaled-down replicas of famous baseball stadiums like Yankee Stadium in New York and Wrigley Field in Chicago.

Additional field replicas may also include Boston's Fenway Park and the New York Polo Grounds.

There will be two stadium clubs, stadium seating, a pizza restaurant with a view of the baseball fields and batting cages at the park.

The stadium's outside walls will also be painted to simulate famous stadium exteriors and room will be left on the property to build two soccer fields in the future.

The fields will use grass rather than artificial turf, because artificial turf becomes too hot during the summer to play on during the day.

The M.S. Mortinson Co. will construct the facility, widen Elliot Road, improve infrastructure and install traffic lights around the facility.

Once construction begins in late August, it will take 12-15 months to complete, according to town officials.

I didn't know that they were getting a traffic light at their entrance, but that seems reasonable. The Mister has been in conversations with the Big League folks to encourage them to put their best face toward the residents of Highland Groves. These will be lighted fields, with really good shielding on the lights that point the light directly at the fields; and they have fairly high outfield walls. We think it will be a great addition to the area.