Youth softball teams practice on two of the four fields at Recreation Park in Chehalis.
The Chehalis City Council at its regular meeting Monday reviewed a synopsis of a feasibility study for a project to relocate ballfields from Recreation Park.
Tom Skillings, of Skillings Connolly Inc., the project lead, asked the council to schedule time at its April 19 meeting to review the full feasibility study.
The feasibility study, which Skillings previewed for the board Monday, explores the pros and cons of moving baseball fields from Recreation Park to either Stan Hedwall Park or land owned by the Chehalis School District off Southwest Salisbury Avenue.
Skillings gave the board preliminary drawings of what the four ballfields could look like at either site, compared with their current location at Recreation Park. In addition to the four fields, which have a length of about 200 feet, Skillings discussed scenarios in which the city could add two additional ballfields 225 feet in length.
“If you go to 225-foot fields that opens you up to much more programs,” said councilor Terry Harris.
Recreation Park has drainage issues at its ballfields and not much space to grow, Skillings said.
While Stan Hedwall Park has more than enough space for the improvements, relocating fields to that location would likely be expensive and include increased environmental permitting requirements due to its location within the Chehalis River floodplain, Skillings said.
“That would be a challenge that would take a while to iron out,” he said.
The school district location would cost less money and would have simpler permitting requirements, he said. Because of soil conditions, all three sites would require drainage projects.
“They’re all challenging,” Skillings said. “The soils are bad at all the sites.”
The city would also need to negotiate an agreement with the school district to use the property.
In the future, Skillings plans to present the feasibility study’s findings to the school board and to the Chehalis Foundation, and continue discussions with the school district about locating the ballfields on their property.
Skilling did not present any dollar amounts to the commission, and instead compared the relative feasibility of each site. He proposed bringing finalized concepts and a cost estimate to the council by June. The council gave Skillings approval to continue as he proposed.
Some councilors expressed concerns with the project.
“Why move the fields if they’re not going to be improved … or better than what we have already?” Dr. Isaac Pope asked.
Councilor Daryl Lund said he wants the improvements to include additional ballfields, in order to attract more people to Chehalis.
“I don’t want to move forward until we can get six fields,” he said.
When the city approved the feasibility study in February, it was estimated to cost $100,000. The Chehalis Foundation paid for the study.
The total project cost for improvements to Recreation Park is estimated at $6.21 million, which includes $190,000 for project management.
The Recreation Park Committee previously recommended placing a measure on the August ballot for an excess levy to pay for the project.
Skillings suggested moving the ballot measure to February, giving the city enough time to apply for funding from the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office. The levy could then be matching funds for the grant, Skillings said.
Skillings said he is also working with a design team on changes to Penny Playground. They plan to meet with Chehalis students in May.
“We want to get together with the kids before they leave school,” he said.
