DAVENPORT, Iowa — The Quad Cities River Bandits' home at Modern Woodmen Park is undergoing significant renovations to meet new Major League Baseball standards for safety and playability. With the season opener fast approaching, the clock is ticking to ensure the park is ready for the first pitch.
The $600,000 renovation project began in October, focusing on key improvements to turf quality and drainage. Crews are working to replace the underlying soil layers to ensure long-term sustainability and provide consistent playing surfaces across Minor League stadiums.
Michael Peters, President of Bush Sports Turf, said, "The big part of the renovation is to remove the surface, lower the slope, and make it a little more playable and safe. When they go from one field to another, it’s not going to be vastly different now, it’s going to be fairly similar so they know what to expect."
In addition to the field work, Davenport city officials are installing extended protective netting around the park to enhance fan safety, in line with the latest MLB facility guidelines. Clay Merritt, Director of Engineering and Capital Projects for the City of Davenport, said, "That will be put in place, ready to go before opening day."
The work is expected to add more than a decade to the park’s lifespan. Merritt said that the renovations are critical for long-term sustainability.
"If you don’t do anything to fix the stuff underneath, then what you’re putting on top doesn’t have a long-term success for growing. So, you'd be looking at a really fast turnaround of having to do the same work over and over again," Merritt said.
The renovations are set to be completed just in time for the River Bandits’ home opener on Tuesday, April 8. Stay tuned for updates as crews wrap up the work ahead of the new season.
For more details on the River Bandits' schedule and to purchase tickets for the 2025 season, visit their official website.