EAST BUTLER — Artificial turf has become the latest innovation at the East Butler Baseball Complex.

The complex added a high outfield wall to Speed-O Field and a sandstone monument honoring its past contributors in recent years.

Now it has the first Little League field in the county with artificial turf.

“This has been a dream field of mine for about two years now, ever since I saw how well the turf works at Pullman Park,” said Dess Schnur, former East Butler Legion manager and current director of stadium operations at Pullman Park.

Schnur spearheaded the monument and outfield wall projects at the EBBA Complex and used left-over funding from the wall project to buy the turf for the Little League field.

“That money wasn't going to be used for anything other than further enhancement of this park,” Schnur said. “There isn't another Little League field like this anywhere.”

East Butler's Little League diamond now consists of a turf pitcher's mound and home-plate area similar to that of Pullman Park. The baselines from home to first and third to home are turf, as are cut-out portions surrounding first, second and third base.

The remainder of the infield and all of the outfield are natural grass. There is no dirt portion anywhere on the field.

Rubber filler will be mixed in with the outfield grass to provide a smoother. more comfortable playing surface.

The field will be ready for use in plenty of time for the 2013 opening day in April.

“Other than a few minor details, the project is completed right now,” EBBA president Mike Slater said. “We've had about 10 volunteers spending up to 10 or 11 hours in a day getting it ready.

“Through donations and volunteer manpower, we were able to do this project for right around $10,000.”

Under normal costs of materials and labor, Schnur said the venture would have cost well over $100,000.

“There is no field around here like this,” Slater said. “And with our lights, we're looking forward to playing a lot of baseball there.

“We can attract more 12-under tournaments, draw teams from Clarion, Pittsburgh, wherever. Kids from Butler Township and Center Township are already looking forward to playing on it.”

No tarp will ever be needed to cover the field. Its drainage should prevent rain-outs. There will be no dust, no mud, no dragging of the infield, no quick-dry substance ever needed.

“Even the baselines are drawn in,” Schnur said. “This project takes away 90 percent of the previous maintenance required. The kids' uniforms won't even get dirty.”

Schnur anticipates success in terms of the field holding up under heavy usage.

“Since the artificial batter's box was put in at Pullman, more than 15,000 batters have stepped in and there's no sign of wear and tear,” he said.

“If this is successful, this field will be copied at least 10 times in this region within the next five or 10 years.”

Slater agreed.

“It's a feasible project for any association if you have people who will volunteer the time,” he said. But you see a lot of places where fields aren't maintained very well. The youth season ends in July, but the grass keeps growing and somebody has to cut it.

“Dess has always had an appreciation for baseball and giving kids opportunities to play under the best conditions possible. This project is one that's close to his heart.”