Construction work to create a full-size dedicated baseball field and two dedicated slowpitch/fastpitch softball fields (with a third softball field available on the main baseball diamond) is almost complete at Farnham Park near Slough.
The project has been carried out by BaseballSoftballUK with primary funding coming from Sport England and the Baseball Tomorrow Fund, which is run by Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association.
Both the baseball and softball communities are clearly looking forward with anticipation to using these facilities, and BSUK has been fielding a lot of questions recently about them. So we have put together the Q&A below to try to answer the questions we are hearing most often.
If you have a question about the new facilities at Farnham Park not covered below, please contact BSUK's London & South East Regional Development Manager .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Questions and Answers
Q: When will the facilities at Farnham Park be open for use?
A: This isn't clear at the moment. The fields have been created and construction of the surrounding infrastructure (backstops, fences, dugouts, warning tracks etc) is almost complete. But when the fields can be used will depend on how well the grass grows and beds in over the next few months. Using the fields too soon may damage the surface, and new fields typically take between eight and 16 months to settle.
Our hope is that use can begin at Farnham Park around 1 July, but it could be sooner if we get good grass-growing weather in the spring – or later if we don't. The current prolonged cold weather is not helping in this regard!
Q: Who will use the fields at Farnham Park?
A: The new facilities at Farnham Park are for the whole of the British baseball and softball community to use – both the established playing community and new and emerging teams in national and local development programmes.
BSUK staff will be working to develop new youth and adult teams from the communities around Farnham Park, and they will be important users. Some teams from the local Windsor & Maidenhead Softball League plan to adopt Farnham Park as their home ground, and we hope that the site will accommodate a number of softball and baseball National Championships this July, August and September.
We also expect to make the facility available to hire by BBF baseball clubs on given weekends during the 2013 season, and by 2014, we hope that the site will be the home of the Great Britain Fastpitch League.
In time, we hope that the site will also be used for national team training and for international competition.
Q: Will a baseball club be based at Farnham Park?
A: We hope that there will be one or more resident baseball clubs at Farnham Park from 2014 onwards. This year, we're planning to make the main baseball diamond available for clubs to book and we will devise a system to spread bookings out evenly between interested clubs. The cost is likely to be about £200 for a full day of baseball games for Federation members.
Q: How can I book the new fields at Farnham Park?
A: Email BSUK's London and South East Regional Development Manager .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or ring him on 020 7453 7005. Patrick is handling the calendar, bookings and price list for the facility.
Q: Can I book additional grass fields at Farnham as well as the dedicated pitches, and how do I do it?
A: Yes, in theory. South Bucks District Council controls parts of the site and has issued leases or licenses covering the rest. Where those are in place, the clubs holding those licenses need to be approached.
BSUK is currently working to build relationships with these other clubs, with the aim of being able to book additional pitches centrally. For more information, please contact Patrick Knock.
Q: What are the rates for booking fields at Farnham Park?
A: The rates are currently being finalised and will be communicated soon.
Q: What are the maintenance requirements and costs for users of the fields?
A: User maintenance requirements and associated costs are currently being agreed and will be communicated once finalised.
Q: Are there changing rooms?
A: Yes, we have access to the Council-run changing rooms nearest the fields as part of our lease.
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