View more pictures of the renovation here!

After two weeks of hard work, the playing field at Haymarket Park is covered in brand-new grass.  The stadium’s award-winning field received its first facelift this month, after eight years of hosting professional, collegiate and high school baseball.

Haymarket Park Athletic Turf Manager Josh Klute says all the sod was in place and ready to grow by the end of last week.  “We just have a lot of small detail work to do, such rolling the sod to level out any imperfections it may have due to the equipment,” he said.  “Also, we’ll be filling in clay around the basepaths and infield when we laser-grade the infield skin.”
 

The renovation began on September 15, when workers started removing the turf that had been in place since the Lincoln Saltdogs’ inaugural season of 2001.  The new sod arrived on September 23, allowing Klute and his staff to lay it all in place by September 26.  At this point, getting the field ready for next spring may have as much to do with the weather as anything else.  Klute says that, barring an early arrival of winter weather, the new turf will be ready to handle the beginning of the Nebraska baseball team’s season.  The Huskers start practice in February, with a first game tentatively scheduled for early march.  The Saltdogs’ 2009 home schedule is expected to open in mid-May.

The playing surface at Haymarket Park has been one of the most honored in all of baseball, earning the “Best Playing Field” award in each of its eight seasons as the home of the Saltdogs.  Haymarket Park claimed the award from 2001 to 2005 in the Northern League, and has also won the honor in each of its first three seasons as a member of the American Association. 

For more Lincoln Saltdogs information, go to www.saltdogs.com. For more information on the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, go to www.americanassociationbaseball.com.