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A Williamsport resident living near Brandon Park says the new reconditioned ballfields become a "muddy mess" during rains and don't properly dry out for several days.
"I want to call your attention to the mess, and it is a mess," said Ralph Keller, of Hughes Street, a former recreation commission member, to city council after sending an email about the two Little League ballfields that recently were renovated in preparation for springtime play.
He said he noticed the inability of water to drain off the playing surface.
"It's more than discouraging. It is disgusting that $800,000 was spent on reconditioning the ballfields," he said.
"In my opinion the flooding is worse," he said. "I've been around enough building projects and I have some idea how these things work."
"I wouldn't blame the contractor who did a beautiful job of cleaning and painting," he said, adding he believed the problem was with the "design … possibly whatever interaction the (former) city engineer had with them."
Keller said a contractor told him there was an 8% grade from the mound that was out to the drainfield. "It is more like 0.8%," Keller said.
"Why didn't they take some core samples to check for drainage knowing that that was the problem that supposedly instigated this whole thing?" Keller asked.
Keller said he emailed members of council about his concern before addressing them in the public comment portion of the council meeting.
He encouraged council members to visit the fields after a heavy rain to see the issue for themselves.
Attempts to reach city public works and the engineer went unanswered as of press time.