New Riverhead ballfield complex expected to open in May

Riverhead’s new ballfield complex in the town-owned Enterprise Park at Calverton will be ready for use by Memorial Day, although lighting of the four fields will not be done this year.

Recreation Superintendent Ray Coyne said that — when bids to pave the parking lot come in — the only concession for future lighting will be putting down strips of bluestone at the edges of the lot so installation of lights in those places will not involve breaking up the asphalt.

Bids on the project must be filed with the town clerk by March 19.

Town officials have been debating whether to pay now the cost of lighting the fields in the hope that outside rentals of the fields would cover the extra expense, but are now leaning toward doing the lighting work in stages over the next few years.

There are four new ballfields at the EPCAL complex, three for softball and one dedicated to baseball, with dugouts, batting cages and a centerfield wall that’s 375 feet from home plate.

“We’re preparing the fields now,” Coyne said. “It’s going to look really good.”

He said that, with proper bleacher seating, the baseball field could handle a crowd of 1,000 people when it opens.