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.”
