Volta Park Field Open

The Volta Park ball field is finally open. The work ultimately took about ten months, which was extended at least four months due to the discovery of an unanticipated grave. That was on top of years of delays caused by permitting challenges and other logistics. Ultimately it took about five years from the original decision to fund the work back in 2021. It takes a long time to do stuff around here, unfortunately.

The field looks great. Most of it, at least. There’s already a large patch of dead sod in left field:

I’ve followed up with DPR about this and they are checking with the contractor about getting it replaced.

The fence that drew some objections has also been installed:

It helps better define the quasi-dog park area as distinct from the ball fiend. This should particularly help during times when many dogs are here at the same time there’s a game going on. Most dog owners are good, but enough are careless and inconsiderate that conflicts have happened in the past, including kids getting bitten. The fence should help, although dogs have no problem getting around it via the bush, so owners still have to be vigilant.

(Also, keep in mind that it’s still illegal to have dogs off-leash anywhere in the park, including this area. Multiple people have been ticketed by the city recently for this, so keep that in mind.)

This area did not get new sod. It got seeds, but honestly the soil is so compacted that the seeds aren’t going to accomplish much. It will need to be aerated and re-seeded at some point or it will turn into a mud patch.

The park is fully open. There won’t be any ribbon cutting. Friends of Volta Park are still working with the city to get rat-proof trash cans installed. Stay tuned on that.