The Future of Ainsworth Field?
Ainsworth Field was one of the best places in Erie to watch and play baseball, now it is desperate need of renovations.
State Representative Pat Harkins and member of the Erie School District's Athletic Field Commission, Al Swigonski, are two Erie natives that remember when the field was in great condition.
Swigonski said the first steps to getting the field back on track are fully replacing the field and the grandstand.
"So it is a safe and comfortable place to watch a baseball game and even the grandstand underneath is now in bad shape," Swigonski said.
Harkins said he is currently working with the Erie School District and Superintendent Brian Polito to try and get the field back in a playable condition.
"I told him to let me know and we can help, at some point I am sure, with funding and any other way to bring that up to being a Class A facility again," Harkins said.
Both Harkins and Swigonski believe that fixing up Ainsworth Field will benefit the entire Erie community.
"We owe it to the generations to come, the players that have been through there, the people I went to school with... my dad coached Glenwood Baseball League and was even the commissioner for a couple years, but I will do anything I can to make sure we get it back to being a Class A facility," Harkins said.
"To see them playing under Ainsworth Field in proper conditions would be music to my ears and then beyond that to grow it to where it can be more of a community and neighborhood asset, so that would be wonderful if we could make that happen," Swigonski said.