Long before fan safety dominated national news in 2019, the facility team was taking care of their fans at Bismarck Municipal Ballpark, home of Dakota Community Bank & Trust Field in Bismarck, ND.
Their story began in 2014 when the Bismarck Parks and Recreation District (BPRD) initiated a master plan study with their architect, Ritterbush-Ellig-Hulsing P.C. As REH developed plans for the entire complex, architect Jeff Feist looked to Beacon Athletics – experts in protective ballfield netting – to advise on the planned backstop net system that would anchor to the new grandstand. Working closely with Beacon’s project services team, BPRD designed and installed an outboard tie-back netting system. Beacon’s unique winch and pulley system allows for continual cable tensioning adjustments to keep the nets tensioned, aligned, and sag-free. The winch & pulley also makes maintenance easy, bringing top-of-the-line durability and the ability to quickly raise and lower the netting when needed. An additional overhead canopy net panel for covering the seats behind home plate was added to ensure complete spectator safety from one of the most common foul balls in baseball – the straight back and overhead pop foul.
