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Rink removed in Williamsport; field damage to be evaluated

Bowman Field

An ice arena for pro hockey is being removed from Bowman Field, home of the Williamsport Crosscutters (short season A; NY-Penn League), but it remains to be seen if there was damage to the playing field.

Williamsport went ahead with a plan to rent the ballpark to a minor-league hockey team, the Williamsport Outlaws, who then constructed an outdoor arena. The effort was less than successful: the Outlaws folded before the end of the Federal Hockey League season and left behind some debt. A $20,000 bond will go toward any needed ballpark repairs, and the city will likely go after the Outlaws on an outstanding $52,000 rent and utility bill.

For the Crosscutters, the prime consideration is whether any damage was done to the turf, the drainage system and the sprinkler system. That won’t be known until the ice melts and the sprinkler system turned on. From the Sun-Gazette:

“We won’t know about underground damage, if any, until the city energizes the irrigation system,” said Doug Estes, vice president of the Crosscutters, which plays in the N.Y.-Penn League and has a lease agreement with the city that ends in 2014.

Estes, who spoke about the field status after the meeting, said the irrigation test is typically done by the city employees in early to mid-April.

“The chiller was unhooked three weeks ago, but the thought was to allow Mother Nature to melt the ice, and wait to disassemble the plexiglass and boards of the skating rink,” he said.

RELATED STORIES: So much for outdoor ballpark hockey: Williamsport Outlaws fold; Crosscutters, Outlaws reach ballpark arena deal; Crosscutters: We have concerns about Bowman Field used as hockey arenaMayor pitches Bowman Field as home to hockey team

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