Council awards construction contract for Heroes Park field renovations to reduce ponding and improve safety

Lake Forest — The City Council on May 20 awarded a construction contract to renovate two baseball fields at Heroes Park, approving a more extensive scope than the project’s original estimate to address long‑standing drainage and safety problems.

Maintenance Services Manager Michael McConaughey told the council fields 1 and 4 have not had recent major improvements and that persistent “lips” and uneven grading between infield and outfield cause ponding and safety hazards for players. After design work, staff concluded the remedy requires complete removal and reconstruction of the infields and outfields, laser leveling, new pitching mounds, irrigation changes, warning tracks and permanent outfield fencing.

The expanded scope raised the construction bid above initial estimates. McConaughey said the original simple scope was estimated near $306,000; the final design and bids pushed the total project budget, including construction management and contingency, to about $989,000. McConaughey explained the city added construction management to coordinate concurrent park and lighting projects and to limit change orders.

George Akerian, vice president of the Lake Forest Little League, spoke in support of the renovations, calling Heroes Park “the league’s hub” and noting the fields host hundreds of games and practices: “Enhanced player safety, improved field playability in all weather conditions, reduced maintenance for both the city and the league,” he said.

McConaughey said the city will close portions of the park to vehicular through‑traffic during construction for staging, but pedestrian and bike access will remain. Staff recommended and council approved the contract award with the schedule aiming to complete work through the summer so fields reopen for the Little League season by Labor Day.

Why it matters: The renovations aim to reduce field downtime from rain, improve player safety and enable the park to host tournaments and regular play with standard warning tracks and fencing.

What’s next: Construction is slated to begin after the current Little League season and continue through summer; staff will manage staging and public access during construction. The council approved the contract; the motion passed with the mayor absent.