BROWNSTOWN

Several years have passed since a men’s slow-pitch league has used the softball diamond at Brownstown Park.

Interest dwindled, so the field hasn’t been used like it was in the past.

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Nowadays, youth baseball and softball teams can be seen practicing on the field.

The field, however, is not suitable to host games because of drainage issues and the infield dirt needs some work.

The Brownstown Town Council hopes to make it to where the field is usable for anyone to play or practice.

“It’s horrible on drainage. You get a little rain, you can’t play on that field, but the other two fields, they can play on,” Councilman Mark Reynolds recently said during a council meeting. “Regardless, we’re looking at upgrading drainage and the field.”

Two other smaller diamonds at the park are used and maintained by the Brownstown Baseball Association.

Reynolds said if the association wants to use the larger field for games, the town needs to set up a meeting with members to share what work needs done and the expectations. Right now, the town maintains that field.

Then whatever is decided, Councilwoman Sharon Koch could share that with the park board for consideration of approval. She serves as a liaison to that board.

“I would really like to see us do something instead of it sitting there,” Reynolds said of the softball field.

Currently, the outfield fences are nearly 300 yards from home plate. Reynolds had local surveyor Dan Blann check the measurements of the area to see if two fields could be put in that area.

Since there may not be enough room to do that, Reynolds said it’s possible to divide the field into two and use them for younger ages. A fence 250 yards from home plate can be used for 12-and-under teams, and one that’s 300 yards out could be used for 14-and-under, he said.

“Even if we went 300, you could have another temporary fence. Like if they didn’t have the 14s, you could move the fence in,” Reynolds said. “It’s a temporary fence for a 250 field or something. Maybe you could have three fields for 12-and-unders.”

Council President Sally Lawson told Reynolds to set up a meeting with the baseball association, and then Koch could take a proposal to the park board.