The Carthage ISD board of trustees voted to approve construction of new baseball and softball fields on the Carthage High School campus during a special meeting today at noon.
The project, awarded to Hellas Construction, Inc., is scheduled to begin next week and has a projected completion date of spring 2023.
The scope of work includes the site preparation and construction of synthetic turf baseball and softball fields, bullpens, and batting cages, as well as fencing, sunken dugouts, scoreboards with video message boards, LED field lighting, additional parking lot, new access road connecting the visitor football lot, and a shared tow-behind turf sweeper for the complex. The fields will be constructed on the northeast corner of the property, where the current baseball and softball practice fields are located.
“We are so fortunate to have a school board here in Carthage that is committed to providing our students with an exceptional experience in state-of-the-art facilities,” said Superintendent Jarrod Bitter. “The upgrade of both playing surfaces to synthetic turf will greatly decrease weather-related game and cancellations and lost practice time. We are also very excited about having baseball and softball back on campus, creating that true home field advantage for our kids in an exceptional facility.”
The CHS baseball and softball teams currently play their games at the City of Carthage Ballpark through an agreement with the City of Carthage and Panola College.
The overall cost of the project is $9,149,530 and will be paid through the district fund balance.