By David Tyler

Construction at Carrier Park has been halted because of COVID-19, but the DeWitt Town Board continues to consider the second phase of development at the park.
Phase II includes the development of three full-size basketball courts, a playground, and potentially the installation of artificial turf on the infield of the two existing baseball diamonds.
The surface of the basketball courts and the playground equipment have been installed. Those parts of the project are nearing completion. The remaining tasks include the surfacing underneath the playground equipment, the final surface layer and painting of the basketball courts and the installation of the basketball stanchions.
On April 13, the board heard a brief presentation on the status of the artificial turf from Terry Brown, a consultant who serves as the construction manager for the town. DeWitt has received bids for the artificial surface, and the lowest bid came in from Davis Wallbridge of East Syracuse for $578,000 as well as about $35,000 in soft costs (engineering and architecture).
The total cost of Phase II of the park’s development including the artificial turf is about $1.5 million, of which $906,000 will be coming from grants. Because these grants have matching spending requirements, the town could lose as much as $600,000 in grant funding if it opted not to move forward with that portion of the project.
Brown indicated that if the board opted to accept the bid as submitted, the economic impact to the town would be about $20,000. However, he said, the bid includes the replacement of drainage under the field, which is relatively new and likely wouldn’t need to be replaced. In all, he estimated there are $50,000 in potential savings from the original bid.
Before the board’s next meeting on April 27, Brown was asked to provide information on the life of the artificial turf, the replacement costs, the costs of leasing or purchasing maintenance equipment and the warranties provided by the contractor.
“The major advantage of the turf is the length of season,” DeWitt Supervisor Ed Michelenko said. “In general, the turf gives you more access.”
The land where the park is located was originally donated to the town by the Carrier Corporation. On the property, there is an old pavilion that Carrier used for employee get-togethers. Michalenko would also like to see that pavilion be upgraded so it could be used for community gatherings or rented out for family or company parties.
On a tour of the facility last week, Michelenko said he envisions Carrier Park filling both a recreational gap on the north side of the town, as well as becoming an economic driver for the area.
In the past few decades, the town has lost nearly $100 million in assessed value as many of the large industrial facilities on the north side of town have scaled back or shut down. The town’s biggest industry has shifted from manufacturing to hotels – most of which are a short walk away from Carrier Park.
When the town completes Carrier Park, which is still several years away, the facility could attract youth baseball and softball tournaments from around the Northeast, which will bring other developments to the area as well, Michalenko said.
The park would be a community asset Monday through Thursday, and then convert to a destination for tournament play on the weekends.
“This could be a future economic engine,” he said.
Phase III of the project is still in the planning stages, but it could include two full-size turf athletic fields for soccer or lacrosse that could be converted into four additional Little League size baseball diamonds, as well as another baseball diamond adjacent to the two existing diamonds.
“We’re doing this in small bites,” Michalenko added. “For a town of our size and budget to take on this size project is a very loft goal.”