Field of Dreams
MLB-Grade Installation
| Client | Field of Dreams Movie Site |
| Type | MLB Baseball Stadium |
| Year | 2017 |
| Size | 10,000 Cubic Yards |
| Location | Dyersville, Iowa |
| Services | Pro-Bono Field Restoration & Renovation |
| Turf System | Natural Grass |
| Status | Complete |
On January 22, 2018, a man drove a truck across the playing field at the Field of Dreams Movie Site in Dyersville, Iowa, leaving ruts up to four inches deep in the infield of one of America’s most beloved baseball landmarks. A GoFundMe campaign launched by site owner Denise Stillman raised more than $20,000 from fans worldwide. Minor League Baseball organized a coalition of Iowa-area MiLB teams, college teams, sponsors, and Bush Sports Turf to repair the field as a coordinated volunteer effort. On April 16, 2018 — after the original day had been postponed three times because of winter weather — more than fifty volunteers met on the field in snow, a 20°F wind chill, and 25 mph wind to bring it back to life.
Project Overview
Project Name
Field of Dreams Volunteer Restoration
Field of Dreams Volunteer Restoration
Client Background
The Field of Dreams Movie Site is the original Iowa filming location of Universal’s 1989 baseball film Field of Dreams, starring Kevin Costner. Built by NBC Universal in a day for the film, the field has been a baseball pilgrimage destination ever since. Denise Stillman owns and operates the site for tours, pickup games, an annual visit by Major League Hall of Famers, and the broader visitor experience. The January 2018 vandalism — which cut ruts up to four inches deep across the infield — drew widespread coverage and an immediate fundraising response from baseball fans around the world. Minor League Baseball’s Jeff Lantz organized the volunteer restoration coalition, and Bush Sports Turf was among the first calls he made.
The Field of Dreams Movie Site is the original Iowa filming location of Universal’s 1989 baseball film Field of Dreams, starring Kevin Costner. Built by NBC Universal in a day for the film, the field has been a baseball pilgrimage destination ever since. Denise Stillman owns and operates the site for tours, pickup games, an annual visit by Major League Hall of Famers, and the broader visitor experience. The January 2018 vandalism — which cut ruts up to four inches deep across the infield — drew widespread coverage and an immediate fundraising response from baseball fans around the world. Minor League Baseball’s Jeff Lantz organized the volunteer restoration coalition, and Bush Sports Turf was among the first calls he made.
Objective
Restore the Field of Dreams playing surface to better-than-original condition for the 2018 visitor season — repairing the vandalism damage, rebuilding the pitcher’s mound, home plate, and bases to Minor League Baseball specification, installing new sod across the infield, baselines, and sidelines, and laser-grading the surface for true play.
Restore the Field of Dreams playing surface to better-than-original condition for the 2018 visitor season — repairing the vandalism damage, rebuilding the pitcher’s mound, home plate, and bases to Minor League Baseball specification, installing new sod across the infield, baselines, and sidelines, and laser-grading the surface for true play.
Scope
Snow removal; damaged sod stripping; limestone scraping from the infield skin; soil backfilling into the vandalism ruts; regrading; laser-grading of the infield and baselines; pitcher’s mound reconstruction; new home plate installation; new bases set to specification; approximately 80 tons of donated sod installation across infield, baselines, and sidelines; coalition coordination across multiple MiLB teams, college programs, sponsors, and 50+ community volunteers.
Snow removal; damaged sod stripping; limestone scraping from the infield skin; soil backfilling into the vandalism ruts; regrading; laser-grading of the infield and baselines; pitcher’s mound reconstruction; new home plate installation; new bases set to specification; approximately 80 tons of donated sod installation across infield, baselines, and sidelines; coalition coordination across multiple MiLB teams, college programs, sponsors, and 50+ community volunteers.
Key & Unique Details
This project was a pro bono community service contribution, executed at the same standard of craft Bush Sports Turf brings to its major-league commercial work. Bush Turf supplied a sod cutter, a laser grader, mound and plate repositioning equipment, and a roughly 12-person on-site crew — equipment and expertise that volunteer field-restoration days rarely have access to. The work was carried out in real winter conditions, with overnight snow on the diamond, a 20°F wind chill, and 25 mph wind on the chosen repair day. Steve Bush summarized the day’s spirit on site: “In the old days when a farmer would need help, all the neighbors would come together, and it feels like that. The community comes together.”
This project was a pro bono community service contribution, executed at the same standard of craft Bush Sports Turf brings to its major-league commercial work. Bush Turf supplied a sod cutter, a laser grader, mound and plate repositioning equipment, and a roughly 12-person on-site crew — equipment and expertise that volunteer field-restoration days rarely have access to. The work was carried out in real winter conditions, with overnight snow on the diamond, a 20°F wind chill, and 25 mph wind on the chosen repair day. Steve Bush summarized the day’s spirit on site: “In the old days when a farmer would need help, all the neighbors would come together, and it feels like that. The community comes together.”
Equipment Deployed
Sod cutter, laser grader, equipment to reposition the pitcher’s mound and home plate, leaf blowers for snow removal, and sod installation equipment — all donated by Bush Sports Turf for the volunteer day.
Sod cutter, laser grader, equipment to reposition the pitcher’s mound and home plate, leaf blowers for snow removal, and sod installation equipment — all donated by Bush Sports Turf for the volunteer day.
Construction Strategy and Implementation
Concept and Vision
The vision for this project was unusual in shape but simple in spirit. The Field of Dreams is not a major-league venue or a commercial sports facility — it is a privately-owned cultural landmark in rural Iowa with limited operating budget for major repairs. When the vandalism damage exceeded what a fundraising campaign alone could professionally restore, Minor League Baseball convened a coalition that brought together MiLB teams, college teams, local volunteers, donated materials, and Bush Sports Turf’s equipment and expertise. The Bush Turf role on the project was to bring the level of construction craft normally reserved for major-league field renovations into a volunteer community day — sod cutter, laser grader, mound and plate equipment, and skilled hands working alongside fifty volunteers who, in many cases, had never built a field before. The defining features of the project were donated equipment and crew leadership from Bush Sports Turf, 80 tons of donated bluegrass sod from Johnson Sod Farms, coordinated labor from multiple Iowa-area MiLB teams, college baseball players, and community volunteers, and an in-day project arc designed to leave the field better than it had been before the vandalism.
The vision for this project was unusual in shape but simple in spirit. The Field of Dreams is not a major-league venue or a commercial sports facility — it is a privately-owned cultural landmark in rural Iowa with limited operating budget for major repairs. When the vandalism damage exceeded what a fundraising campaign alone could professionally restore, Minor League Baseball convened a coalition that brought together MiLB teams, college teams, local volunteers, donated materials, and Bush Sports Turf’s equipment and expertise. The Bush Turf role on the project was to bring the level of construction craft normally reserved for major-league field renovations into a volunteer community day — sod cutter, laser grader, mound and plate equipment, and skilled hands working alongside fifty volunteers who, in many cases, had never built a field before. The defining features of the project were donated equipment and crew leadership from Bush Sports Turf, 80 tons of donated bluegrass sod from Johnson Sod Farms, coordinated labor from multiple Iowa-area MiLB teams, college baseball players, and community volunteers, and an in-day project arc designed to leave the field better than it had been before the vandalism.
Project Philosophy & Key Features
Bush Turf’s commercial work spans major-league stadium renovations and high-profile international event conversions, but the company’s philosophy on community service work is the same as on paid contracts: bring the same equipment, the same craft, and the same standards. There is no second-tier service tier for a project just because it is pro bono. On the Field of Dreams project, that meant showing up with laser-grading equipment that most volunteer field-restoration days never see, working alongside Minor League Baseball groundskeepers who treat the craft seriously, and treating the project as the technical challenge it actually was — a vandalized infield with ruts up to four inches deep, weeks of accumulated freeze damage, and a one-day window of working weather — rather than a feel-good photo opportunity. The neighbors-helping-neighbors framing Steve Bush invoked on site captures the spirit of the day; the build quality reflects the craft of a company that has built and repaired playing surfaces across Major League Baseball.
Bush Turf’s commercial work spans major-league stadium renovations and high-profile international event conversions, but the company’s philosophy on community service work is the same as on paid contracts: bring the same equipment, the same craft, and the same standards. There is no second-tier service tier for a project just because it is pro bono. On the Field of Dreams project, that meant showing up with laser-grading equipment that most volunteer field-restoration days never see, working alongside Minor League Baseball groundskeepers who treat the craft seriously, and treating the project as the technical challenge it actually was — a vandalized infield with ruts up to four inches deep, weeks of accumulated freeze damage, and a one-day window of working weather — rather than a feel-good photo opportunity. The neighbors-helping-neighbors framing Steve Bush invoked on site captures the spirit of the day; the build quality reflects the craft of a company that has built and repaired playing surfaces across Major League Baseball.
Execution
Phase 1 — Coordination and Coalition Assembly (Late January – April 2018)
After the January 22–23 vandalism, Denise Stillman launched a GoFundMe campaign that exceeded its $15,000 goal in three days and ultimately raised more than $20,000 from baseball fans around the world. Jeff Lantz, Senior Director of Communications for Minor League Baseball, organized the volunteer restoration coalition and made Bush Sports Turf one of his first calls. Steve Bush agreed to provide equipment, crew, and expertise. The original repair day was scheduled for March but had to be postponed three times because of lingering Iowa winter weather.
After the January 22–23 vandalism, Denise Stillman launched a GoFundMe campaign that exceeded its $15,000 goal in three days and ultimately raised more than $20,000 from baseball fans around the world. Jeff Lantz, Senior Director of Communications for Minor League Baseball, organized the volunteer restoration coalition and made Bush Sports Turf one of his first calls. Steve Bush agreed to provide equipment, crew, and expertise. The original repair day was scheduled for March but had to be postponed three times because of lingering Iowa winter weather.
Phase 2 — Site Preparation and Snow Removal (Morning of April 16, 2018)
Work began at 9 a.m. on a morning of overnight snow, wind chills near 20°F, and 25 mph wind. Volunteers cleared snow from the diamond using leaf blowers and hand tools before the major restoration work could begin.
Work began at 9 a.m. on a morning of overnight snow, wind chills near 20°F, and 25 mph wind. Volunteers cleared snow from the diamond using leaf blowers and hand tools before the major restoration work could begin.
Phase 3 — Damaged Sod Removal and Subgrade Repair
Bush Turf crews stripped the damaged sod from the infield with a sod cutter and scraped the limestone from the skin portion of the infield. Soil was backfilled into the ruts left by the vandalism — up to four inches deep in places — and the infield surface was regraded to a true elevation in preparation for sod.
Bush Turf crews stripped the damaged sod from the infield with a sod cutter and scraped the limestone from the skin portion of the infield. Soil was backfilled into the ruts left by the vandalism — up to four inches deep in places — and the infield surface was regraded to a true elevation in preparation for sod.
Phase 4 — Mound, Plate, and Bases Reconstruction
Iowa Cubs Sports Turf personnel rebuilt the pitcher’s mound using clay donated by Site One Landscape Supply. Crews from the Burlington Bees and Quad-Cities River Bandits prepared the infield for its makeover. A new home plate was installed, and all bases were set to Minor League Baseball specification.
Iowa Cubs Sports Turf personnel rebuilt the pitcher’s mound using clay donated by Site One Landscape Supply. Crews from the Burlington Bees and Quad-Cities River Bandits prepared the infield for its makeover. A new home plate was installed, and all bases were set to Minor League Baseball specification.
Phase 5 — Sod Installation and Laser Grading
A semi waited at the field with 80 tons of donated sod from Johnson Sod Farms of Biggsville, Illinois. Bush Turf crews and volunteers laid the sod across the infield, baselines, and sidelines. After installation, the infield and baselines were laser-graded using Bush Turf equipment to deliver a true playing surface. Turface infield material donated by Site One Landscape Supply was worked into the infield mix.
A semi waited at the field with 80 tons of donated sod from Johnson Sod Farms of Biggsville, Illinois. Bush Turf crews and volunteers laid the sod across the infield, baselines, and sidelines. After installation, the infield and baselines were laser-graded using Bush Turf equipment to deliver a true playing surface. Turface infield material donated by Site One Landscape Supply was worked into the infield mix.
Phase 6 — Completion and Site Reopening
The infield surface was completed over the following days. A surveillance camera system was added to protect the site from future incidents. The Field of Dreams reopened on schedule for the 2018 visitor season and hosted a September 2018 game featuring Major League Hall of Famers Wade Boggs, Ozzie Smith, Pudge Rodriguez, and Alan Trammell.
The infield surface was completed over the following days. A surveillance camera system was added to protect the site from future incidents. The Field of Dreams reopened on schedule for the 2018 visitor season and hosted a September 2018 game featuring Major League Hall of Famers Wade Boggs, Ozzie Smith, Pudge Rodriguez, and Alan Trammell.
Results and Acknowledgments
Outcome
The Field of Dreams playing surface was restored to better-than-original condition in a single coordinated volunteer day. The infield, pitcher’s mound, home plate, and bases were rebuilt to Minor League Baseball specification. Donated sod, clay, and infield material were installed using equipment normally reserved for major-league field projects. The site reopened on schedule for the 2018 visitor season and hosted its September 2018 game with MLB Hall of Famers Wade Boggs, Ozzie Smith, Pudge Rodriguez, and Alan Trammell on the rebuilt field. The Field of Dreams remains in continuous use as one of America’s most beloved baseball pilgrimage destinations.
The Field of Dreams playing surface was restored to better-than-original condition in a single coordinated volunteer day. The infield, pitcher’s mound, home plate, and bases were rebuilt to Minor League Baseball specification. Donated sod, clay, and infield material were installed using equipment normally reserved for major-league field projects. The site reopened on schedule for the 2018 visitor season and hosted its September 2018 game with MLB Hall of Famers Wade Boggs, Ozzie Smith, Pudge Rodriguez, and Alan Trammell on the rebuilt field. The Field of Dreams remains in continuous use as one of America’s most beloved baseball pilgrimage destinations.
Credits and Collaboration
Bush Sports Turf gratefully acknowledges the coalition that made this project possible: Denise Stillman, owner of the Field of Dreams Movie Site; Jeff Lantz, who organized the effort on behalf of Minor League Baseball; the grounds crews, staff, and leadership of the Iowa Cubs, Cedar Rapids Kernels, Clinton LumberKings, Quad-Cities River Bandits, and Burlington Bees; the baseball team and sports-management students of Iowa Wesleyan University, under Professor Jonathan Evans; the local high school and college players and community volunteers who showed up in the cold; Johnson Sod Farms of Biggsville, Illinois, for donating 80 tons of sod; Site One Landscape Supply for clay, Turface, and sprinkler heads; Gehl Lawn Service, PB Triple Seed, and DuraEdge Products for material contributions; the Chicago Cubs for a $10,000 donation to the repair fund; and the thousands of fans whose GoFundMe contributions made the broader repair possible. Bush Sports Turf takes pride in the Field of Dreams restoration as one of its proudest examples of community service through craft.
Case Study Deep Dive
Challenge vs. Solution
Navigating complex requirements with innovative engineering.
The Challenge
A Beloved Field. Four-Inch Ruts. A Winter That Wouldn’t Quit.
A coalition led by Minor League Baseball had to coordinate more than fifty volunteers from multiple organizations, repair vandalism damage that ran deep into the infield, and make a privately-owned national landmark playable again before the spring tourist season — in real Iowa winter conditions, after three weather-driven postponements of the work day.
Vandalism caused ruts up to 4 inches deep across the infield and mound
Repair already postponed 3 times due to lingering Iowa winter weather
Snow, 20°F wind chill, and 25 mph wind on the day work finally began
~50 volunteers from 5+ MiLB teams, college teams, and community groups
Privately-owned field with limited operating budget for major repairs
Site had to be ready for visitor season and a September Hall of Famer game
The Solution
Volunteer Expertise. Donated Materials. Major-League Equipment.
Bush Sports Turf donated equipment, crew, and expertise alongside a coalition of MiLB teams, sod donor Johnson Sod Farms, and local sponsors — restoring the Field of Dreams infield, mound, plate, and bases to better-than-original condition in a single coordinated volunteer day.
Bush Turf donated equipment, a 12-person crew, and project expertise
Sod cutter, laser grader, and mound/plate equipment supplied at no charge
Damaged sod stripped, limestone scraped, ruts regraded and rebuilt
New pitcher’s mound, home plate, and bases set to MiLB specification
80 tons of donated sod laid across infield, baselines, and sidelines
Coalition coordination across MiLB teams, donors, and 50+ volunteers
Project Gallery
The Work, Up Close
Visual highlights of the construction phases and final result.
TESTIMONIALS
From The Client
“Between them and Johnson Sod donating the sod and Bush Sports Turf coming in to help us rebuild, it’s wonderful. It’s such a testament to the importance of this place to Northeast Iowa, as well as the special place it has in the hearts of the fans, especially the baseball fans locally.”
Denise Stillman
Owner — Field of Dreams, Dyersville IA
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