Field fix lacks funds

SANDPOINT — As council members play hardball with the city budget, city patrons should expect  no grandstanding when it comes to Memorial Field.

Council members know the field and its lights need upgrades, but another tight budget year may bench plans for refurbishing the field that is used for many events including the Festival, and high school sports.

Kim Woodruff, Sandpoint Parks and Rec director, said safety issues at the field are being addressed, but a fix may not be in the offing any time soon.

“We don’t have the funding in place,” Woodruff said. “We may have the authority, but no revenue.”

Council members could approve a preliminary budget as early as next week, but even if they agree that the fields should be a priority, the money may not be available, Woodruff said.

Two key safety issues are at the forefront of necessary upgrades, he said.

The grade must be tapered between the infield of the baseball diamond used by Sandpoint High and its outfield, he said, and the lighting system, especially the wooden poles that hold the heavy floodlights, may need to be replaced.

The poles will be surveyed this summer.

“Between the infield of the baseball diamond and the outfield, there is a pretty substantial elevation drop,” Woodruff said.

The difference in elevation stems from years of smoothing the baselines.

Once the light poles are surveyed, the city will have a better idea of which direction to go, he said. It could opt to replace the lighting system if the poles are unsound.

“Both of these projects are driven by public safety,” he said.

Figures on their cost have not been estimated.

In addition, a survey of the grandstand less than a decade ago showed that the framework is nearing its life expectancy.

“That’s the big egg,” Woodruff said.

City residents are emotionally tied to the field and its antiquated stands and lights, officials said. Any upgrades would attempt to maintain the aesthetics of the existing infrastructure.

Council members understand the necessity, and the timeliness of upgrading Memorial Field, councilman Justin Schuck said.

“We have some outstanding issues,” he said. “We keep putting Band-Aids on top of Band-Aids.”

Schuck said the city, because it is the caretaker of the field, but not its primary user, has asked the school district, Festival organizers and other entities to help come up with a funding solution.

Users have conferred on the issues at Memorial Field, but so far, a solution is still on the sidelines.

“Any offsetting revenue at this point would be through donations,” Woodruff said. “Even if it is in the budget, it doesn’t mean it’s going to happen. It just means we have the go ahead to do it, if we had the money.”