DELAND — A few years ago, when the renovations to Melching Field at Conrad Park were still in the planning stages, Stetson baseball coach Steve Trimper often went to bed and dreamt about what it would look like.

As of this weekend, he doesn’t have to visualize anymore. Artificial Turf Dog Run

Stetson University and the City of DeLand held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday, celebrating $8 million of upgrades to the stadium.

“It’s exactly, to the blade of grass, what I thought it would be in my dreams,” Trimper said. “… I really feel like it’s the best ballpark in the state right now.”

NASCAR:Daytona 500 on NASCAR's horizon, and Austin Cindric wouldn't mind another

BOYS SOCCER:New Smyrna Beach stays unbeaten; Seabreeze, Taylor eliminated

The groundwork for the project began about five years ago when Stetson and the city started talking about renewing the university’s lease on the facility. The lease was extended in 2021, keeping Hatters baseball at Melching Field through 2042. The construction process on the stadium upgrades started June 1 of last year. 

Melching Field opened in 1999 and had undergone only minor changes until last summer.

The city and Stetson partnered to revamp the playing surface, including laying down synthetic turf behind home plate and in foul territory up the first and third base lines. Over time, the outfield had sunk roughly four feet, so it was bulked up and leveled. The field was shortened by eight feet, and the outfield walls were heightened and padded. The bullpens were moved from the foul lines to the outfield.

Off the diamond, chairback seating with cup holders and new premium seating options were added throughout the venue. The sound and light systems were replaced, and a large video board was put up in right field.

“It’s really going to help us, obviously, with recruiting,” Trimper said. “It’s going to help us give that student-athlete experience that we’re trying to do.”

But the city and university had more than just baseball in mind with the renovations. They’ve talked about hosting movie nights, concerts and other events at the ballpark.

“We wanted to make this a community destination,” DeLand Parks and Recreation Director Rick Hall said.

During Saturday’s 40-minute ceremony, hundreds of fans and community members in attendance listened to speeches from Hall, DeLand Mayor Chris Cloudman, University President Chris Roellke, Athletic Director Jeff Altier, Trimper and baseball captain Christian Pregent. To end the evening, a Hatters hype video was shown on the board and the new LED light system flashed.

The Hatters, who had been training at Sperling Sports Complex during the renovations, practiced at Melching Field on Sunday for the first time this year. They host Manhattan at 6:30 p.m. Friday to begin the regular season.

Artificial Turf For Balcony “This will help us take that next step to be — what our hope is — a top-20 program every year,” Altier said.