St. Lucie County officials are working to repair the Tradition Field complex, which was damaged during Hurricane Matthew.
The county is estimating that it will need $170,000 to repair the damage done by the hurricane, which hit the area on October 7 and left behind some issues at the spring training home of the New York Mets. Much of the damage took place at the adjacent complex, where the county is seeking to patch up the fields after weather conditions and debris affected the quality of the playing surface.
Repairs are expected to be completed some time next month, and the county could receive a federal reimbursement for the expenditure. More from TCPalm:
“The gravel got washed away and created an uneven surface,” said Ed Matthews, county Parks, Recreation and Facilities director. “We’re concerned about it becoming a tripping hazard for players.”
The county has started repairs and is ahead of schedule, spokesman Erick Gill said. The work will be completed before Jan. 15, the start of Fantasy Camp, a seven-day baseball camp for adults who train and play games at the Tradition Field complex.
The county is using stadium reserves to pay for the repairs and will seek reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Gill said.
If everything unfolds as expected, the repairs should be done in plenty of time for spring training. The Mets pitchers and catchers will report on February 12, and the team’s first home game will take place on February 25.