Westlake officially cut the ribbon Saturday on a nearly $8 million overhaul of the Recreation Center Park, rolling out a rebuilt playground, upgraded baseball diamonds and a lit multipurpose turf field. Mayor Dennis M. Clough joined city staff and youth teams as families swarmed the new amenities during a community celebration. City leaders say the upgrades will mean longer practice hours, tougher and more reliable playing surfaces, and an inclusive play zone designed so kids of all abilities can get in on the action.
Field upgrades and cooling tech
The ballfields’ infields were installed with FieldTurf’s DoublePlay Natural surface, and the multipurpose field uses Vertex CORE with CoolPlay top dressing to better handle both heat and heavy use, according to City of Westlake. Musco LED sports lighting wraps the complex, allowing for nighttime play and more flexible scheduling.
FieldTurf’s product pages state that the DoublePlay series is engineered to mimic the feel and play of natural grass, while the CoolPlay system is designed to lower surface temperatures compared with traditional infill systems. The technology is increasingly showing up at collegiate and municipal fields, a club Westlake clearly intends to be part of.
Playground, night play and funding
As reported by Cleveland.com, the nearly $8 million price tag is covered by a levy voters approved in 2017 and follows a master-plan study that wrapped in 2015. The expanded playground now includes shaded seating, accessible pathways, a multi-level climbing tower and twin tube slides, turning the park into more of an all-day hangout than a quick stop.
The grand opening doubled as a neighborhood party, with a DJ, inflatables and concessions helping families test-drive the new setup.
Community reaction and youth use
Parents and coaches were quick to take a few laps on the new turf Saturday. Chris Passen told Cleveland.com, “Everything is looking fantastic.”
City officials say the fields will host Westlake youth soccer, football, softball and baseball programs, and that the cooler-playing surface and LED lights should open up more evening practices and events once the sun goes down.
The ribbon cutting wraps a long planning phase for Recreation Center Park and shifts attention to other Recreation Center projects scheduled for 2026, including pool and natatorium improvements. Mayor Dennis Clough thanked residents for approving the levy that paid for the upgrades, the city says, signaling that the community buy-in is not going unnoticed.
