Those who were beginning to think that reconstruction of Pullman Park might never happen because of the many months the project has seemed to languish in limbo can now embrace a feeling of optimism.

Work finally has gotten under way to restore this piece of Butler's sports history and, in a larger sense, make other planned redevelopment in the West End appear closer at hand.

It is the baseball park's left field wall that took the first hit Wednesday in what will be the rebuilding of the park into a facility that can accommodate not only school and community baseball and softball games but also, possibly, a minor league baseball franchise.

The community will be watching to see that the promise of Perry O'Malley, executive director of the Butler County Redevelopment Authority, which is overseeing the reconstruction, comes true.

O'Malley has vowed that the new Pullman Park "will be the best field and facility in the region, outside of PNC Park in Pittsburgh."

The Pullman restoration has a price tag of $4.3 million. The start of the work is being handled by way of a $561,000 contract awarded by the redevelopment agency last Friday.

The contract includes a new grass outfield and an artificial turf infield. That work is to be completed by Sept. 30 so there will be an established field in place by March.

The reconstruction also will include a new facade, seating and dugouts under a design prepared by Ligo Architects of Slippery Rock.

According to O'Malley, plans are to award a contract for general construction by mid- to late-September. The contract will call for the work to begin immediately and be concluded in the spring, in time for school and community baseball and softball leagues and other events.

Thursday's Butler Eagle photo showing a backhoe demolishing the left field wall provides a snapshot of the deterioration that the historic baseball park has increasingly endured. The weathered condition of the signs on the wall being torn down suggested neglect and diminished community enthusiasm regarding baseball, but interest in the sport remains strong here.

A new stadium will enhance that enthusiasm — plus build the prospects for minor league baseball.

There will be those residents who will continue to reflect on what might have been if Pullman Park had been relocated to the vacant land at the intersection of Route 8 and Hansen Avenue. It's true that relocating the ballpark there would have made it more visible to more people than having it remain tucked into the area along Pillow Street.

But the community should be optimistic on the basis of O'Malley's promise. It's doubtful he would have made such an optimistic prediction if he didn't feel it would be possible.