The village board, Little League association and local Rotary club reached a verbal agreement last week, placing the field on a patch of unused land between the Little Loggers playground and the skateboard park. This location is a compromise between the association and village board, which have proposed several field locations since pitching the idea in 2015. Situated off state Route 3, the field would be in a central location, satisfying the association’s desire for it to become a popular fixture in the village, while not disturbing the village’s plans for growth and events at the other end of the park.

The association had proposed two other locations at the park, and the village board suggested using the Washington Street park’s field before Michelle Clement from the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism pointed out the pond-side location.

Measurements taken on Aug. 28 showed the field fitting perfectly inside the diamond-shaped space, with home plate right outside the volleyball courts and the first base line running parallel to a waking trail along the shore.

It is a tight fit; the field would push its boundaries on every side and require minor rearrangement of the south end of the park. The skatepark may need to be moved, and the volleyball courts would lose a net, leaving two.

Just beyond the Little Loggers playground is the diamond-shaped grassy site of a proposed Little League baseball field, with its home base between the skateboard park and the trees lining the shore. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Cerbone)

According to the measurements, the outfield fence would come 2 feet away from the Little Loggers playground fence. Village Mayor Paul Maroun said a temporary net would be put along the outfield fence during games to keep balls from entering the playground.

The field area itself would not require much work as it was already leveled during the construction for the Aubuchon Hardware store on Lake Street.

Now that there is a location for the diamond, the Little League association and the others in the community need to raise enough money to build it.

Building a ball field is no small venture, and Daniel Brown, president of the Tupper Lake Little League Association, says the association wants to spare no expense to make the Tupper Lake field the best one for 100 miles around. The current plans include dugouts and an announcing booth, with plans to eventually add a batting cage and concession stand.

“We want to get back to that great American feel of, ‘Throw your glove and your hat on your handlebars, and safely ride your bike down to the park to play baseball,'” Brown said. “It’s a big symbol of our community giving back to the youth.”

The association and Rotary club have been fundraising for the field through the winter to reach their budget estimate of more than $65,000. They already held several events and received donations from local residents and businesses.

Before the field can be built, an inquiry will be made to the state Department of Environmental Conservation and Adirondack Park Agency to see if they have jurisdiction over the land. Maroun said it is unlikely that they do. If money is raised in time, Rotary President Rick Dattola hopes to have the field under construction next spring with its first game later that summer.

The association will hold a “Field of Dreams” fundraiser for the field on Sept. 14 at Big Tupper Brewing.