Monroe opens fields of dreams

Despite some early spring rain — and a lot of rain at times — Bearcat Baseball seniors pitched their approval of the new Monroe High School ballfields before their home opener.

The seasoned team members lined up over home plate Tuesday, March 14, to cut the ceremonial ribbon, having waited two years for construction of the new ballfields to be completed.

“This is a dream I had since the day I walked on this campus,” said MHS principal John Lombardi.

Following the ceremony, Lombardi stood next to the bleachers, watching the players warm up. He pointed to a bland patch of dirt and grass between the sidewalk and school building. That turf is what the old baseball fields used to look like, he said.

They weren’t really even ballfields, Lombardi said; they were just fields. The site had been sensitive to poor weather conditions, making practice impossible; players had to drive off campus for training.

Lombardi said the new fields are among the top facilities in the region, leveling the playing field for Monroe athletes.

Three full-fledged fields now fill the space behind the school — one for baseball, softball, and a utility field that will be opened up for public use. The synthetic turf can take cleats year round.

Monroe Public School District Superintendent Dr. Fredrika Smith was one of many school district administrators, public officials and community members that came to congratulate and cheer on the teams at last Tuesday’s ceremony. She said community support is largely why the facilities are now open.

The project was funded through a bond measure that passed by 62.75 percent in April 2015, and completed in two phases. Design was completed by DA Hogan & Associates, and built by A-1 Landscaping & Construction, Inc.

The fields “align with the talents the kids have, and show off their skills in a way that celebrates their accomplishments,” Smith said.

Heidi Hansen, district director of capital projects, said it was great to see players on the fields. Echoing Smith, she said it wouldn’t be possible without the bond measure.

The first phase was installing a 215-foot competition-level artificial turf for fast-pitch softball, including a backstop, field fencing, batting cages, bullpens, covered dugouts and bleachers, at cost of roughly $1 million.

Phase two included a 200-foot, artificial turf, fast-pitch softball field, and a 325-foot by 390-foot baseball field, and cost roughly $3.3 million. The first phase was funded by the school district, the city of Monroe, revenue from timber sales and a grant from the Snohomish County Tourism Bureau.

The new ballfields are estimated to generate 1,350 overnight stays in the city per year, giving the area an economic boost. The bond funded the second phase.

“Thank you all for supporting us for all this,” said varsity player Eric Pino. “We’ve been waiting for a long time to have this new field. We’ve been asking for this for a long time, and now it’s great that it’s finally here.”

2017 MHS Hall of Fame inductee Tod Johnson threw the first pitch.