Recreation, fitness center upgrades continue at base Published May 30, 2007 By Jake Shaw 482nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs HOMESTEAD ARB, Fla. -- A renovation project is underway at Homestead Air Reserve Base to repair and upgrade the softball/flag football fields and other areas surrounding the base fitness center. The project, which started May 14, includes a new vinyl-coated fence which is more durable and safe according to Mr. Herb Tiedemann, the Base Fitness Center Director. The fence should endure severe weather and abuse for years and will not rust or have jagged edges like many metal fences, he said. "We also moved the home plate area back 30 feet, which makes it 315 feet from home plate to the outfield fences," said Mr. Tiedemann. The extension of the softball playing field also makes more room for the flag football field, which was less than regulation size until now, he said. Flag football teams currently use the outfield area of the softball field during the off-season because there is no dedicated football field at the base. The renovation of the softball field should be completed by mid-June, but other projects will begin soon after, including the installation of a half-mile soft running track that will loop around the fitness center and new softball field areas, according to Mr. Tiedemann and base contracting officials. The soft running track will provide Airmen here with a safe, dedicated area to perform their annual fitness test as part of the Air Force's Fit to Fight program. Once the running track is installed, Mr. Tiedemann wants to continue the improvements by installing a dedicated astroturf flag football field, if his budget permits the project. He claims that the turf will pay for itself after a few years because maintenance costs will be minimal.