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The City of Williamsport and Lycoming College sealed a 25-year lease for the senior field at Brandon Park.
City Council approved the lease by resolution at its meeting this week.
Lycoming College is creating a collegiate-level playing field at the senior field, according to Mayor Derek Slaughter.
The college has a baseball team and is in need for a home field.
Kent Trachte, college president, said the college has committed to investing $2.5 million of its own capital in the ball field.
There will be a turf field, stands and netting to protect the neighborhood and lighting added.
No plan is in place to add additional parking in the current design, he said.
Students and other members of the community can walk there and park nearby in spaces and on streets and the college will open its campus in an area within a short walk, he said.
There is no plan to remove trees but maybe one tree may have to be taken out and the college is working to avoid that. There was discussion in trying to move the tree and Councilwoman Liz Miele said it might be wise to replace it with a new one.
A legal team from the city and college went over the lease terms and deed documentation.
Councilman Jon Mackey said he would like to see college security driving around the ballpark during games. If there is ever a crosswalk or light put up on Washington Boulevard, Mackey said perhaps college security could assist those walking to and from the park crossing at Elizabeth Street.
Trachte said he would be fine with that but it would depend on whether the city administration is okay with use of college security for patrol and pedestrian safety.
The teams will not be having games late into the evening, he said.
Insurance is not less than $1 million coverage, the lease terms state.
The senior field may remain open for the public organizations provided it makes scheduling arrangements with the college, Trachte said.
These final use details are fluid but it remains the intention of the college to provide public access that the college is made aware of and scheduled use is appropriate, Trachte noted.
Separately, the city also is having contractors upgrade two Brandon Park ballfields in the lower end.
The upgrades to the combined three fields is expected to draw baseball and softball attention back as it was for Little League, organizational and collegiate play.
It is expected to be a regional attraction and provide yet-to-be determined economic benefits for area restaurants, hotels and businesses.
The park is considered the crown jewel of Williamsport, with tennis courts, a bandshell (to undergo renovation and improve accessibility), many shade trees, flowering plants, lighted walking paths, a playground and a nature play area.
Brandon Park is overseen by the city and its Brandon Park and Shade Tree Commission.