Dec 12, 2024 By Chris Dugan 3 min read

The worn-out and patched turf at Wild Things Park is finally being replaced.

The Frontier League ballclub announced Thursday that the current turf, which was installed prior to the 2011 season, will be replaced with a new FieldTurf synthetic playing surface. Removal of the old turf is scheduled to begin today.

“It’s going to go very quick. It will probably take about six weeks – weather permitting,” Wild Things president Tony Buccilli said. “The first game here, a (PennWest) California game, is scheduled for Feb. 14.”

This will be the third change to the playing surface for the ballpark that opened in 2002. It initially had a grass playing surface but that was replaced in 2011 with a ProGrass synthetic field. ProGrass has since been purchased by AstroTurf.

“Usually, the turf fields get about eight to 10 years of use, depending on how much use it gets,” Buccilli pointed out. “We got 14 years out of ours, which is amazing when you consider we’ve been playing about 150 games a year on it.”

That’s not counting all the concerts and festivals that have been held on the turf. In recent years, the turf has shown its age.

“This project has been in the planning stages for some time and we’re excited to have it underway,” Francine W. Williams, the team’s managing partner, said in a release. “The new turf will not only be striking, but it will ensure the playing surface is safe. Updates like the new turf make it possible for our team, the Washington Wild Things, to enter our 23rd year of Frontier League Baseball.”

The new turf will have a slightly different look. Buccilli said there will be striping on the green infield and outfield grass. The brown turf on warning tracks, pitcher’s mound, home plate area and basepaths will be the same shade of brown that is currently used.

The Wild Things name, along with the logo of the mascot throwing a baseball, will be featured behind home plate.

The turf will feature the logo of Coen on the turf, near the basepaths. The Wild Things announced a multi-year partnership with Coen.

“Coen has been part of Washington County for more than 100 years, so when the opportunity to become a permanent fixture at the Washington Wild Things Park was presented to us, the answer was easy,” said Andrea Neuohr, vice president, marketing, at Coen. “We’re very excited to see our brand become part of the new turf, and to provide our Coen Pepperoni Rolls to fans in the 2025 season.”

The renovation will be funded by sponsorship, grant funds and team ownership. Buccilli said the cost of a new surface for a baseball park is “typically $500,000 to $600,000, depending on the condition of what is under the turf.”

The new playing surface will have an eight-year warranty.

In addition to hosting Frontier League games, Wild Things Park continues to be home to PennWest California baseball, the Washington and McGuffey high school teams, the WPIAL Championships and youth tournaments.

The Wild Things will live stream the project on the team’s YouTube page at youtube/@WashWildThings.