OTTUMWA — The Park Advisory Board has more than one ball field in its dreams.

The board on Tuesday approved allowing Rathje to pursue improving and expanding the adult softball fields in the northwest quadrant of Ottumwa Park. The fields are between the Des Moines River levee and U.S. Highway 34 West.

In his report, Parks and Recreation Director Gene Rathje recommended the advisory board approve allowing Ottumwa YMCA and adult softball players to form a committee regarding adult softball fields.

“The two adult softball fields at Wayside Park are in poor condition,” Rathje said. “I’ve met with the YMCA executive director and the YM recreation staff. They agree something needs to be done.”

There’s room for a third field at Wayside Park and the two current fields can be renovated, or a four-field “quadplex” can be built at another site, Rathje said.

A softball player himself, Rathje told the park board he has viewed the local fields and believes better ones are needed. A quadplex would be optimum and could be achieved with renovating the two current fields and building two new ones.

Board Chairman Bob Beisch asked about a triplex.

“Three would be enough if each one had 300-foot fences and lights,” Rathje said. “The fences on the adult fields are 255 feet and 265 feet.”

The parks director also said one adult softball field is close to the street and the other is close to the levee. By turning or twisting the location of the current fields, a third one might fit.

Board Member Don Schwartz wondered if there was a better location.

Rathje said he could search for one.

Beisch said the city might be better off to keep the current location. But, the fields are too small.

“The turf on the infields isn’t the best but the lights are good at both fields,” Rathje said.

If the project happens, volunteers would handle the work at Wayside Park, he added.

Schwartz asked if the YMCA would oversee the project and Rathje confirmed it.