Fraser Field gets face lift

LYNN – Those who have attended baseball games at Fraser Field over the past decade will be in for a bit of a shock come April when the high school teams start to play.Gone is the faded, matted-down artificial surface that coated the infield. In its place is a new playing surface that encompasses the entire infield, including the area that was formerly infield dirt and the dirt batters? boxes. The project is almost complete, with just some finishing touches left to do.Unlike some of the major league parks that went to all turf back in the 1970s, the surface that constitutes the base paths and the area behind home plate – as well as the batters? boxes – will be a dark brown shade.The major beneficiaries are Lynn?s five high schools, which play all their home games at Fraser Field, along with the North Shore Navigators, Fisher Junior College and assorted other summer youth baseball programs.This is the first major upgrade of the combined facility known as the Harry Agganis Complex since Manning Field was completed in 2008.?The Fraser Field turf project enhances one of the best athletic complexes in the state,” Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy says. “We are gratified that our student-athletes are able to play on state-of-the-art surfaces.”?All residents of Lynn should take great pride in Fraser Field and Manning Field, which set Lynn apart from virtually every other community,” Kennedy said.The total cost for the project is $345,000, $200,000 of which came from a $4 million municipal bond approved by Kennedy earlier this year to improve parks, playgrounds and other infrastructure in Lynn.Money also came from Fisher, which contributed a capital investment of $57,000 (part of a total of $70,000 the college gave the city; the other $13,000 going to construct new batting cages). In addition, the Navigators prepaid their lease through the year 2020, which gave the city $45,000 in additional funds, and $43,000 was taken from the Stadium Revolving Fund, consisting of rental revenue for both Manning and Fraser, and a portion of concession and ticket proceeds.?It was time to replace the old turf,” said facilities director John Kasian. “The old turf had run its course, the same as anything runs its course. But we?ve replaced it with state-of-the-art turf and with the most current technology.”Where Fisher College begins its season in March, “now, when they start, unless there?s snow on the ground, we?re good to go. And it?s just as good in the summer, when there?s thunderstorm or something ? all we have to do is cover the mound. When the storm?s over, uncover the mound and play. It?ll really cut down on maintenance and field recovery costs.”The old turf was installed in the fall of 2002 in conjunction with a major renovation of the facility funded by the City of Lynn and Nick Lopardo and the North Shore Spirit.?Before, it was just on the infield, but not on the base paths,” he said. “That?s like not having it at all, because when it rained, we still had to cover the whole infield.”The outfield will still have natural grass, but Bill Terlecky, general manger of the North Shore Navigators, said that as far as rain goes, that has never been a problem.?It drains well,” he said. “And a few years ago, the city came in and fixed the left field area, which was a huge problem.”The only real dirt in the facility will be on the pitcher?s mound and the outfield warning track.From a baseball point of view, Terlecky said, the new turf will play faster than grass, and will mean that he will probably build the Navigators based on speed and defense. Beyond that, however, he feels it?ll help him make determinations on whether to play or postpone games in inclement weather.?I think, now, that by the time a team gets on the bus to come here, it?ll know whether there?s a game,” he said. “Up to now, you didn?t know. And where it?s one day in and one day out, as opposed to two- or three-game series, it?s important to know whether you?re going to be playing.”Another c