McAvoy Park Users Must Wait a Bit Longer To Play Baseball

Courtesy of Democrat & Chronicle
Written by Meaghan McDermott
June 4, 2005

IRONDEQUOIT -- Working more than 700,000 pounds of rubber pellets and sand into more than 200,000 square feet of artificial turf can take a little longer than expected.

So can laying 24,000 square feet of paving stones, getting a snack bar and a restroom facility ready for use and raising about a dozen towering light poles over the brand-new soccer and baseball fields at McAvoy Park.

"We had to reschedule a bunch of games, but it wasn't end-of-the-world stuff," said Dave Frawley, president of the Irondequoit Athletic Association, of the few weeks' delay in the park's grand opening.

The youth baseball and softball league, with about 500 players, had hoped to dig cleats into the dark green of the park's ball fields by the end of May.

But small delays in getting the snack stand ready, the light poles up and the turf surface finalized mean the first pitch likely won't be thrown in the park until at least June 15, said Mike Spang, Irondequoit's director of parks and recreation.

"When we did our scheduling this year, we planned it around McAvoy not being available," said Brad Carrier, president of the All-Irondequoit Sports Association, which has another 317 youth members still hoping to play at Mc-Avoy at least once before their season ends in early July. "If it does become available, that will be a bonus. The kids are very excited to go over there."

Just two years ago, the 40-year-old McAvoy Park, at the corner of Empire Boulevard and North Winton Road, had only two worn-out softball fields and a few aged tennis courts. With a $3.5 million investment by the town, and the addition of about 1 acre of land for fields, the park has been transformed into a state-of-the-art athletic facility that sports two baseball diamonds, a regulation-size soccer/football field, a smaller soccer field, a new children's playground and a concession stand/restroom facility. When the construction is complete, the park will be open from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.

"We really wanted to maximize this site so we could alleviate some of the problems with our youth sports organizations," said Spang, noting that Irondequoit has few town athletic fields, and even fewer available open spaces where they could build more. He said the town opted for artificial turf at McAvoy because it's not only cheaper in the long run, but can also stand up to the abuse of numerous consecutive games.

And the park's new under-field drainage system -- which can absorb up to 6 inches of rain per hour -- means that teams could hit the fields within an hour after a downpour.

"When the park is fully operational, we'll have 70 athletic events a week on these fields from mid-April through August," said Spang. "That's 34 little league or youth soccer games, 24 adult slo-pitch games and 12 senior softball games."

Carrier, who lives near the park, said he's been eying the reconstruction since it started.

"The park looks great to me," he said. "I think it will be a showcase facility for all of Monroe County. It's a beautiful, beautiful site."

But, he said, he and the kids who play in AISA hope the park will open on the 15th.

"It's pretty exciting to get onto the artificial turf, and play under the lights," he said. "It's a big deal."