A field next to the Pardeesville Playground was just that — a field — until Philip Corrado came along.

Corrado, 18, of Pardeesville spent the summer transforming the plot into a place to play and practice baseball as part of his Eagle Scout service project.

"The fence and benches were here but that's it," he said. "It was just grass."

Corrado, a member of Hazleton Boy Scout Troop 790, installed bases, baselines and a pitcher's mound to create a ballfield that can be used by community baseball and softball teams.

To come up with the idea, he consulted with a committee of the Pardeesville Recreational Association of Hazle Township. The committee suggested a few projects, including the ballfield.

"They wanted to build a baseball field, but they never got around to it," Corrado said. "I said I'd take up the project."

The field was built to Little League regulations, and measures 60 feet from base to base. Corrado and his father, David Corrado, staked out the measurements and tilled out baselines.

"We eventually did the infield," he said.

Hazle Township donated the use of several pieces of equipment, and helped pick up and deliver the special infield dirt. Bases were donated and installed. A backstop behind home plate was already in place.

"Hazle Township knows they can use this as a practice field or a game field," Corrado said.

When he was working on the project, he said, several people asked when he would finish because they wanted to try it out.

And just last week, Corrado spotted a few softball players practicing there.

A 2014 graduate of Hazleton Area High School, he will attend Luzerne County Community College to study accounting. He is also the son of Kathy Corrado.

The field is owned by Hazle Township and maintained by the Pardeesville association, which also maintains the playground. Members of the association are currently going door-to-door in the village to determine what other types of programs and projects are in order.

jwhalen@standardspeaker.com