Fort Dale Academy’s baseball and softball teams will for the first time in school history, have a true home field advantage this upcoming season.

The construction of new baseball and softball fields is expected to complete in late February.

“Our intent is to play on those fields this season,” Fort Dale Academy Headmaster David Brantley said.

According to Brantley, the school has paid $75,000 to $100,000 toward the construction of the fields, but volunteers, parents and local businesses have come together to help keep the cost to a minimum to build the fields.

“We’ve had small donations and sizeable donations from people that have helped us get to this point,” Brantley said. “There has been much work donated, including site work from individuals that we want to thank at the appropriate time.”

Brantley estimates that when the fields are finished they will be worth $150,000 to $200,000.

“The cost of the property is not figured into that,” Brantley said. “The school bought the property several years ago and is making annual payments on that property.”

At Monday night’s Greenville Planning Commission meeting, Calvin Poole proposed and received approval for a plan to build two buildings at the site of the fields.

“This is basically going to be 20×20-foot structure,” Poole said. “It will be a concession stand with two bathrooms on the other half. On the second floor there will be a 20×10-foot press box. The (softball) field is simply an 8×8 one-story structure for the press box. It will be made out of wood and metal facing.”

The initial process of building the fields started three to four years ago and has gained steam in the past six months, Brantley said.