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The Lawrence Technological University/Southfield softball complex was celebrated with a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking a highly anticipated milestone for the school and the city. The September 10th event drew LTU and Southfield leaders as well as students, alumni and residents to mark the occasion, which coincided with LTU in Southfield Day.

The event featured remarks from representatives of the city, LTU and the project’s donors, followed by the official ribbon cutting. Speakers included Southfield Mayor Kenson Siver, City Administrator Fred Zorn, LTU President Dr. Tarek Sobh and LTU Athletic Director Mary Ann Meltzer.

The celebration continued as the LTU marching band led guests to the popular Eat to the Beat lunchtime event in front of the Southfield Municipal Campus.

The state-of-the-art softball complex features an all-weather artificial turf softball field and serves as home to the LTU Blue Devils women’s softball team, as well as a location for Southfield community events, youth sports programs and collaborations between the city and the university. Located east of the Southfield ice rink, the field replaces the prior recreational softball field.

What began as a $450,000 donation from an anonymous donor led to a total project cost of $2.5 million for capital improvements to the field, notes Terry Croad, AICP, ASLA, City of Southfield Director of Planning. “The result is an exciting state-of-the-art complex that features an artificial turf field, a press box, painted dugouts, backstop, new scoreboard and more. This reflects a major upgrade for the city’s businesses, schools and residents as it reshapes the local sports landscape.”

According to Kevin Finn, LTU Vice President for Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement, “This Southfield- and donor-funded home field is critical to our women’s softball season, which runs from February through May. It gives our student athletes a durable, well-drained playing surface that can handle Michigan’s wet spring.”

This dedicated field is a long time coming for the LTU women’s softball team, which has been playing without a home field for 10 years. “This gives the team a place they can call home and really adds to our student experience,” says LTU Athletic Director Meltzer.

“It’s a safe, high-quality facility where the team can practice, compete and develop their skills — right down the street. Having a brand-new field gives students, families and alumni something to be proud of, and helps build school spirit. For our community, it’s great that we can partner with Southfield and host games and tournaments and bring camps and youth leagues to the city.”

The complex “came in on time and under budget,” says Domenic Angeli of Frank Rewold & Sons construction company. Angeli, who served as project manager, points out its unique design elements that include dual-colored dugouts and wall padding with city and university logos.

Another unique aspect “is a removable home run fence that meets both National Collegiate Athletic Association requirements for the LTU women’s softball team and can also accommodate Parks & Rec leagues,” says Angeli.

“We are always working to make the student experience better at LTU, and by partnering with the City of Southfield, we’re also creating a stronger experience for the entire community,” adds Finn.

“We’re happy to celebrate this exciting milestone representing the important collaboration between the City of Southfield and Lawrence Tech,” says Southfield Mayor Siver. “This sharing of resources has resulted in a win for LTU athletics and for the city’s recreational leagues, community events and more. It’s a perfect collaboration and great joint effort since LTU women’s softball runs from February through May while Southfield softball leagues run from May to October.”

The City of Southfield and Lawrence Technological University are on a winning streak as plans for construction of an artificial-turf, all-weather softball and baseball field take shape.

With approval by the Southfield City Council to move forward with a September groundbreaking, the field will serve as a dedicated location for LTU’s women’s softball team, which has played without a home field for the last 10 years. Located east of the Southfield ice rink, the field will replace the current recreational softball field and will continue to accommodate recreational leagues as well as community events.

It all began with an anonymous donor who wanted to give back to someone who had impacted his life years earlier. A donation of $500,000 toward the field was his way of saying thank you.

“This exciting state-of-the-art field will feature a press box and other updated amenities, such as painted dugouts, backstop and new scoreboard,” says Terry Croad, AICP, ASLA, City of Southfield Director of Planning. “This reflects a major upgrade for the city’s businesses, schools and residents as it reshapes the local sports landscape.”

According to Kevin Finn, LTU Vice President for Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement, a home field complete with artificial turf is critical for the women’s softball season, which typically runs from February through May. “The all-turf field will provide a more durable playing surface, with necessary drainage to accommodate our wet spring weather.”

The Southfield City Council has approved a total of $2.5 million from all sources for capital improvements to the field, which is expected to be completed spring 2026.

“We’re always trying to make our student experience better, but when we combine this with the City of Southfield, we’re making a better experience for the whole community,” says Finn.

“This project is another great collaboration between the City of Southfield and Lawrence Tech,” adds Southfield Mayor Kenson Siver. “The city and the university are sharing resources to build a better facility for both. The great thing about this project is that LTU’s team will use the field in March and April and then it becomes available for recreational leagues, community events and the Southfield Parks & Recreation spring programming. Everybody wins!”