E.E. Gunn Reserve Baseball Backstop Fence for Baseball Field

Location :

Caulfield South, VIC

Client :

City of Glen Eira

Year :

2018

Sector :

Protective fencing | Baseball

Home for the Ormond Glenhuntly Hunters Baseball Club, EE Gunn Reserve consists of two baseball facilities; one a formalised diamond with skinned bases and pitchers mound, while the second diamond only consisted of a skinned home plate due to the diamond sharing with a cricket oval outfield. The main facility had recently had a new backstop fence constructed with players benches while the second diamond had a non-compliant backstop fence.

City of Glen Eira engaged SPORTENG to produce the documentation for the development of a Baseball Australia compliant backstop fence.

THE CHALLENGE

The second diamond overlapped with the outfield for a cricket oval. The new backstop fence had to ensure that it maximised the outfield for the cricket while also producing a compliant backstop and diamond for the baseball users.

In addition the location for the backstop fence had to ensure there were no clashes with existing in-ground infrastructure (i.e. irrigation main, etc.) and mature trees.

THE SOLUTION

The backstop fence was designed and located to maximise the footprint of the cricket oval. A fly net was also included at the top of the backstop to prevent fly balls clearing the backstop and landing on the adjacent roadway.

THE RESULTS

The new backstop fence enables a higher level of use on the second diamond knowing that there will be no fly-balls landing on the adjacent roadway or residential properties.