City to Resurrect Baseball Field at Highland Drive

Play ball!

The proposal between the school district and the city of Brecksville to resurrect a baseball field at the Highland Drive Elementary School is now official. 

The baseball diamond has been dormant for 15 years. 

The city ironed out an agreement with the Brecksville-Broadview Heights School District for a $1 per year lease. 

The school board first gave thumbs-up on the agreement that will allow the city to lease the land and maintain the baseball field. The city, as well as the school district, would use it for baseball games. 

The lease will grant access to the schools during the week; and the city’s use during the nights, weekends and summer. 

The city will also maintain the maintain. 

The current fence and backstop will be removed and replaced. Aluminum bleachers would follow, but lights for night games aren’t a part of the game plan. 

“In exchange, all we have to do is allow (the schools) to utilize the space during schools days, for recess and so on,” said Brecksville Mayor Jerry Hruby. 

“It’s a good deal…It give us a field at minimal cost.”

The city will pay a total of about $16,000 for the field, including:

• $1,400 for new concrete
• $3,800 for soil
• $1,150 for grass seed
• $1,320 for benches
• $3,050 for stands 

“(At first) I was taken aback (by the costs),” said councilman Gerald Broski. “I think it’s a good investment in the long-term. 

The lease agreement is a dollar per year, for 30 years.

“Our obligation is to do the improvements and maintain the field thereafter,” added Hruby. “We’re very fortunate that we will be able to do this.”