Clyde softball field getting turf makeover

CLYDE — The softball field at Clyde High School is a hard, rough patch of dirt right now, but it soon will be one of the best stadiums in the state. Joe Wilson Field should be ready to go by the start of the school year, thanks to a generous donation by the field's namesake. Wilson, who has donated funds for multiple projects at Clyde High School, including the auditorium, tennis courts and football stadium turf, is the driving force behind the softball turf project, which could cost close to $600,000 once work is finished later this summer. "We want to constantly upgrade our facilities whether it's in the classroom or out here. This will be the best," said Wilson, a retired businessman and Clyde graduate. "We want to do it right. We felt it was money well spent." Workers from Anstead Construction were working on the drainage on Thursday and hoped to wrap up that phase of the project on Friday. "When they put the field in originally they put a lot of drainage in," Clyde athletic director Ryan Greenslade said. "We're fixing everything we hit. This field is gonna drain better than any field." After surveying work is completed, footers for a 12-inch outside curb will be dug. Fence posts will then be set. "By July 1 we should have everything done but the turf," Greenslade said. "As soon as our last game was over we had equipment sitting here that day. The Tuesday after Memorial Day we were going gang-busters." Work began during the season when the arborvitae plants behind the outfield fence were removed. Pine trees will take their place. The original field was finished in 2001. Wilson was a school board member at the time and was pleased that the Fliers could move to campus from a community park. Now he takes satisfaction is upgrading the program further. "You come out here in March and the field is soft," Wilson said. "They practice on the football field." Wilson, who began discussing the project with Greenslade two years ago, called Clyde coach Marc Marshall before any dirt was moved. "He said they'd love it; he's 100 percent behind it," Wilson said. "I didn't want to start doing something if the girls didn't want to play on a synthetic field." Many local businesses and volunteers are helping with the project. "We try to keep everything local," Wilson said. "You want to create community awareness. These are the people who will come out and see it." Added Greenslade: "To me, it's all about building a relationship. A lot of our high school graduates work for these businesses." The dugouts and press box are in good shape so they will go mostly untouched except for some concrete work. Four soccer lights, which haven't been used for years, sit beyond the outfield and will be moved. Clyde Power & Light will dig the holes to make it possible to reuse that resource. "We're gonna play a full game and flip the lights on and play," Greenslade said. "We're not gonna short-change our kids." Wilson, who visited turf softball fields at Danbury and Sports Force Parks to get ideas for the Clyde project, has his stamp all over the Clyde campus. The next big project might be the baseball field, which has about twice as much square footage as the softball field. "I said let's get this project done," Wilson said, "and I'll help with that project."