When the St. Mary High School baseball team takes the field next spring, they will be playing on an entirely new surface.

At the Leland Township Board meeting Monday night, trustee Steven Plamondon updated the board and public about an ongoing effort to improve the baseball field.

Not only is it the home field for the St. Mary varsity and junior varsity baseball teams, it also hosts many youth league games throughout the summer.

Plamondon, who is also the St. Mary varsity baseball coach, said he has been working with supporters and families whose children attend the school and use the field to raise enough money to fund the renovation. Township supervisor Harry Larkin said improving the ballfield has been on the township’s park and recreation commission’s to-do list for at least the last 10 years.

Workers with Thomas Turf Services, a firm recommended to Plamondon by Traverse City Beach Bums owner and county resident John Wuerfel, will be here next week to start a $45,000-$50,000 renovation of the baseball field. Plamondon said he was approached last year by parks and recreation member Jim Saffell about getting the project moving forward. “I thought I was given this task, so I took the ball and ran with it,” he said.

The cost for the project will be split between St. Mary fundraising efforts and Leland Township. The township’s $25,000 contribution will come from the parks and recreation commission’s budget.

The existing sod will be removed, Plamondon said, and the entire field will be flattened, using a lazer-level for guidance. Currently, there are several low spots throughout the field that do not allow it to properly drain. Once the field is set at the right level, workers will use a product called Turface to rebuild the infield and pitchers mound. Plamondon said part of the problem with the existing infield is that the surface is mainly clay. When it rains, it gets soggy and when it dries, it becomes almost as hard as cement.

“We have to pull a big spiked roller behind our tractor to break up the material after it dries up; it’s a real mess,” he said.

The outfield will be planted with a newer variety of turf grass that will stand up to the wear and tear of the spring and summer baseball season. Plamondon said the renovation will not involve the removal of the existing fence since it would add to the cost of the project. During the next year, the field will require some extra maintenance and fertilizing since it takes time for the turf’s root system to become

Larkin said there have been some concerns voiced by the parks and recreation commission members about both the cost and that they weren’t aware the project was taking place. Plamondon said he has talked with the parks and recreation chairman Jim Schlueter, and believed the commission was aware of the project. He also offered the services of himself and members of the St. Mary baseball team to help with any project the parks and recreation commission needs help with this summer.