Opening of Boston Ballfield planned later this month

Elizabeth Forward’s softball team could play the first game April 21.

Opening day is near for the new Boston Ballfield in Elizabeth Township.

While the date and the guests involved are tentative due to weather and other factors, the work has been put into the area for ballplayers and fans to enjoy the area once again.

The township had a groundbreaking for the field in April 2024. It has been worked on by PDDM Solutions and named Rhino Memorial Ballfield. The improvement project has been renovating the existing Boston field that is in between a section of the Great Allegheny Passage trail and the Youghiogheny River. The township is hoping to include EFYA boys and girls at the opening ceremony, according to Commissioner Adam Musisko. If weather permits, the first game will take place April 21 featuring the Elizabeth Forward softball team.

Musisko mentioned at the township’s workshop meeting last month that there was a late start last year getting grass for the field. They have been working with Elizabeth Forward’s athletic director to pinpoint a day for when the fields will be usable.

“We are not exactly sure when it will start for high school level players for the whole field,” Musisko said at Monday’s meeting. “The grass has come up, which is kind of odd because it was under water and there was a bunch of grass there.”

The Elizabeth Township Fire Department has volunteered to help water the newly planted outfield grass.

“The department’s dedication to supporting the local community ensures that the field will be in top shape for athletes and residents to enjoy,” Commissioner Chris Thoma wrote in a Facebook post. “Their efforts are a true reflection of community pride and service.”

Musisko said they are trying to fix some other problems in right field that have come up before.

There will be a fieldhouse on the property, which has been in renovations the last few months, and part of the building will be put together by the time the event happens. However, some parts of the building are still under construction.

Musisko said the fieldhouse is worth $1 million, but PDDM Solutions offered to design, construct and run utilities to the building for $282,880, which the board approved at its last meeting. There would also be $92,000 in donations and $170,000 from the board of commissioners.

“The fieldhouse is waiting for power from West Penn Power,” Musisko said last month. “It is erected and the gravel inside for the interior work to be completed. As soon as we have power this week, we’re going to be putting that together, and finishing up the interior so they can turf it.”

The township is working on Phase 2 of the project to install bathrooms and other elements of the building, which should be completed around summertime.

Some field work and payments were approved Monday as well:

• Reimbursing EFYA $12,476, which is half the total maintenance cost for 2025, for taking care of seven ball fields in the township, according to both EFYA and the township’s field maintenance agreement.

• Paying applications to PDDM Solutions for $96,250 for the field and $28,000 for the fieldhouse. A change order was also approved for $4,000 in concrete work at the fieldhouse.