EASTBUTLER — The Speed-O Field Wall Project is nearly completed.

The third and final phase of the two-year project, designed to build a 15-feet high, 570-feet long wall around the outfield of the baseball park, is scheduled to be completed in late May.

"If you factor in labor and materials, this would be about a $100,000 project,"said East Butler American Legion baseball manager Dess Schnur. "With the advertising signage and volunteers we've had, it paid for itself.

"Any profits we have will go back into capital improvements for the facility."

Those improvements will include additional parking, a safety corridor for fans, players and coaches to enter any of the East Butler Baseball Association's four ballfields from the parking area, and a playground modular.

If the funding all falls into place, Schnur said the playground could be completed in time for the 2009 season.

Thirty advertising billboards along the outfield wall remain open for sale. The center field wall is 8 feet wide and 20 feet tall.

"A ball has to travel over 400 feet for a kid to homer over the 'green monster,'" Schnur said. "Two kids did it last season.

"Brad Cottage hit one for us and a kid from Mars hit a grand slam to beat us."

Schnur said an elevated box seating section is being built in the right-center field area. These seats will be above the wall and enable fans to view games throughout the complex.

A canopy will cover that section so fans can enjoy games in all weather conditions.

Players from ages 5 to 19 use the East Butler Baseball Complex.

"We have 23 to 25 teams using those four fields,"Schnur said. "We wanted to make it one of the premier baseball facilities in Butler County."

More than 2,000 Butler County players combined to play more than 350 games at the complex in 2007.

Speed-OField has had lights since 1995 and is one of only two Butler County American Legion ballfields to sport lights. The other is Pullman Park.

"Night games make all the difference,"Schnur said. "Our attendance is tripled when we play after the sun goes down during the summer. There's just a different feel to it."

Schnur has been East Butler Legion's only baseball manager and has accumulated 357 wins, 10 regular season league titles and 10 regional playoff berths during his 24-year tenure.

"I remember this place when it was just a hill," Schnur said. "I played ball here for 11 years and have coached for 33. I'm proud of the way it's developed."