By the time the main construction was completed, Kidd had spent approximately $30,000 (Screengrab: Youtube/WSLS 10 News)
An Ohio father spent nearly two years and around $30,000 building a baseball field in his backyard after his five-year-old son asked whether they could have one at home.Jason Kidd, who lived in Brookfield, transformed part of his property into a playing field, with regulation bases, a raised pitcher's mound, professional-grade infield clay and foul lines that he painted himself.
The project that involved extensive land preparation, eventually attracted complaints from some neighbours, WSLS 10 News reported in 2019.Kidd's son was playing with a T-ball set when he made the request, which his father initially dismissed. But the idea stayed with Kidd, who began considering whether the family had enough space for a baseball field.The father, who owned a small aircraft management business, eventually started measuring his backyard.
The property was not immediately suitable for a playing field and needed a lot of preparation.By the time the main construction was completed, Kidd had spent approximately $30,000. Although the amount was considerable, he said it was close to what he had expected, and worth it to spend time with his son and introduce him to baseball.
The biggest expenses came before the field was built
Preparing the property turned out to be one of the most demanding parts of the project.
Kidd could not begin laying the playing surface until he had cleared the space and changed the existing landscape.The backyard contained numerous trees, while a hill occupied part of the area intended for the field. Both had to be removed before construction could proceed. Kidd later identified tree removal and insulation work as two of the largest expenses.The baseball surface accounted for only a fraction of the total spending.
Kidd estimated that the clay cost between $5,000 and $6,000. Rather than using ordinary soil, he selected the type of material used on major league baseball fields."The field itself wasn't the most expensive," Kidd told Yahoo Lifestyle. "It was five or six thousand dollars worth of clay, the same kind of clay they use on actual big league fields," he added.The completed playing area included regulation bases and a raised pitcher's mound.
Kidd also took responsibility for painting the straight foul lines himself.However, the $30,000 expenditure did not cover everything he wanted. A fence was still missing, even though he had expected it to be included within the original budget.
Neighbours raised concerns about the backyard project
While neighbourhood children were excited about using the field, some residents were less enthusiastic. One concern involved the possible effect on surrounding property values.
Kidd recalled that a passer-by had made a negative remark to the contractors working at his home.Another neighbour questioned whether rain could carry material from the playing surface into a nearby ditch. Kidd disagreed with that concern, maintaining that the clay covering the field was too heavy to be washed away in the manner suggested.There were also worries about balls travelling beyond the playing area and breaking windows.
Kidd said the field would be used for softball rather than hardball games.The complaints were not limited to conversations with neighbours. According to Kidd, a Brookfield Township trustee had received an anonymous complaint about the project.
More additions were planned for the baseball field
Despite completing the main playing area, Kidd had not finished all the improvements he wanted to make. His plans included a warning track, a fence and a scoreboard.Installing the fence had become a logistical problem. Arranging for steel supplies and fencing contractors to be available together was proving difficult.
In July 2019, Kidd said he hoped the work could be completed within the next few weeks.Kidd, a divorced father who shared custody of his son, wanted a place where they could play together and where he could teach the boy about baseball.He was also realistic about how long his son's enthusiasm might last. At five, the boy was interested in baseball, but Kidd recognised that children often change their minds about what they want to do.He explained that his son had already expressed interest in becoming a police officer, a doctor and even a superhero. If baseball eventually stopped being important to him, Kidd said he would accept that. "If he never wants to play a professional sport, that's fine," he said.