The historic Sullivan Field in Grand Rapids, long-standing since 1937 and once the stage for more than 70 Major League Baseball players, has been given the green light for restoration of its grandstands. This update follows a previously announced pause in construction after contractors encountered severe wood rot and structural damage.

According to WZZM 13, construction on the $4.25 million project had been suspended, but Fans of Valley Field, the organization spearheading the efforts, now plans to ramp up fundraising to cover new costs associated with the restoration. The precise increased amount has not yet been disclosed, the announcement of the updated fundraising goal is expected by the end of August.

Additional backing for the project comes from a lineup of major donors, including Meijer, Mercantile Bank, Bissell, and various foundations reports FOX 17 News. Despite the unforeseen complications, the preservation initiative was deemed more cost-effective than erecting an entirely new structure.

"It’s very old. There are issues with the foundation. There’s been shifting with some of the main beams and so on," Paul Soltysiak, co-founder of Fans of Valley Field, highlighted the challenges in the past, as per WOODTV. The team has since been closely working with architects, engineers, and the city of Grand Rapids, with a $1 million dedication to the project from the latter, to find the most viable restoration strategy.