Nothing has changed. That’s the word from Bakersfield College Athletic Director Jan Stuebbe on the baseball and softball field renovation.
The estimated $1.7 million project has now turned into a $2.3 million process that has taken longer than expected. The Dean and Adah Gay Sports Complex had a construction completion date set for Dec. 15, 2008 and landscaping was to be done by Jan. 15.
“I can’t say I’m not surprised it happened,” Stuebbe said, “It’s taking longer, costs more than it did three years ago.”
In May 2007, 91-year-old Dean Gay donated $250,000 to BC’s athletic department. The field renovations were a part of a plan to update the college and when the donation came in, construction planning began. Although construction was originally set for summer of 2007, tearing down began after the spring season in 2008. The contractor is Golden Construction and the architect is Ordiz Melby and Associates, a local company.
As of right now, the issues are still the same. The softball field is taking longer and will be finished later because of the southern bleachers. Measurements were two feet too high, so spectators would not see the field correctly. The bleachers were being made in Texas, and construction couldn’t start until the correct information was set. Softball coach, Sandi Taylor explained other delays, “The backstops have been corrected. It’s simply that it has taken time to go through steps of a process to make a correction.”
The plan is to get baseball playing on the field by March 14, and softball sometime in April.
Stuebbe is hopeful.”We’re hoping that transpires. I’m seeing aggression by the district to get the project moving.”
Although the teams are able to practice at home, games have been rescheduled and moved around. The baseball team had a tournament on Jan. 29, 30, and 31, which was played at Sam Lynn Baseball Park. Their next tournament set for Feb. 12 through the 15th will also be at Sam Lynn. Home games for softball will be played on the Dave Frye field.
In the midst of chaos and hope to get the project completed, the change being made will not only be visually pleasing, but it will help the fields to meet the standards set by the American Disability Act. Part of the free parking lot has been removed for landscaping and more handicap spaces. The bleachers in the softball field were temporary seating.
After the remodel, there will be 750 permanent seats for baseball and 350 permanent for softball.
“We see the light at the end of the tunnel,” Stuebbe said, “We’re going to have the best facility in the state. It’s going to be beautiful.”