Levitt Stadium Improvement Project on track to be ready for use in August

The improvement project included a number of stadium updates, such as resurfaced tennis courts, a new playing field and the biggest change: new turf for the football and baseball stadiums.

In March, York City Council approved a $2.8 million contract with Mammoth Construction to complete the improvements. Construction began a little more than a month later, said Cheree Folts, York’s director of parks and recreation.

Improvements to the tennis courts were completed about two weeks ago, Folts said. Installation of the playground will begin in early July and the new play structure, which includes new swings, is expected to be ready for use by the end of July.

The stadium itself is undergoing a number of renovations, in addition to the turf, including new dugouts and a new seating area for visitors.

Laying of the turf could begin on the football field as early as Monday July 1st. As part of the turf installation, the construction crew laid irrigation pipes, a layer of matting and several layers of rock. Once the turf is laid, crews fill it with sand and rubber.

“It’s like a retention pond,” Folts said. When it rains, water runs down through the turf and, as the pitch is leveled, flows towards the edge where drains carry the water away from the pitch.

Soon the park will return to its usual use.

“The stadium never sleeps,” Folts said. Levitt Stadium is in constant use throughout the year, she explained, because it serves as both a football and baseball field, which has always made maintaining the turf field challenging.

The council went ahead with the turf installation, she said, after realizing the city could save money in the long run by no longer having to maintain the turf.

The deadline for the football field to be ready for use is Aug. 9, Folts said. She believes the entire stadium could be fully finished by the end of August.