SCRANTON, Pa. – The City of Scranton is currently accepting bids through 9:30 a.m. on Thurs., May 15, for the construction of a proper cricket pitch at Chic Feldman Field, 109 Green St., Scranton. Engineering for the project was completed by the City’s engineering firm, Reilly Associates, and the costs for construction will be paid through the City’s capital budget. An official Invitation to Bid (ITB) can be obtained on Scranton’s e-Procurement Portal at https://secure.procurenow.com/portal/scrantonpa.
“It’s been great to work with the Scranton Cricket Club, our Parks Department, and Reilly Associates to get this project off the ground,” Scranton Mayor Paige G. Cognetti said. “Cricket is the world’s second most popular sport, so adding it to our many sports on offer at Scranton parks is an opportunity for our kids to try something new, and for our growing Indian community to share their culture with the rest of the City.”
Per the bid released Tues., April 29, the selected contractor will be responsible for the “construction of a Cricket Pitch in the area of an existing softball field.” The scope of work “includes removal of backstop and infield soil, replacing with topsoil and grass” and the installation of an “asphalt cricket pitch.”
The project restores an important gathering space for members of Scranton’s Indian community, according to Scranton Cricket Club organizer Sammy Lalkiya, of West Scranton. About a decade ago, teams would compete at the South Side Sports Complex at 100 Broadway Street before it was transformed into the Quinn Athletics Campus as part of the University of Scranton. The group has since held its recent tournaments at McDade Park.
“It will be a lot better to have our own field,” Lalkiya said. “When we do proper tournaments, teams from other states and from places like Philadelphia will be able to come and play. This field is going to help us bring together our Indian community. Even if we don’t play every day, we will still get together there.”
The Scranton Cricket Club has about 126 members, according to Lalkiya, and tournaments can attract up to nine teams per event. The club also intends to import an official cricket turf directly from India. Lalkiya estimates the donation will cost between $10,000 and $15,000.
According to USA Cricket, cricket is a centuries old bat-and-ball sport similar to baseball that’s played between two teams of 11 players each. The pitch is the center of an oval-shaped field. Bowlers hurl a leather ball at batters, who try to score runs either by hitting the ball across the field boundary or by running the length of the pitch after hitting. There are 11 different ways to dismiss a batter, and the winner of the match is the team with the most runs scored after both sides have batted.
Chic Feldman Field is about 4.30 acres in size and is tucked quietly in part of Scranton’s Pine Brook section. The 2021 Parks Needs and Assessment Master Plan recommended a full renovation of the site after long-term goals were determined. Playground equipment mentioned in the study was in disrepair at the time and has since been removed.
Questions about the project can be submitted to the “Q&A” portion of the procurement portal before 4:30 p.m. on Friday, May 9.
Information about the Scranton Cricket Club is available at www.instagram.com/scranton_cricket_club.
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ABOUT THE CITY OF SCRANTON: Incorporated in 1866, the City of Scranton has a population of approximately 76,000 residents and is the sixth-largest municipality in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Scranton City Hall is located at 340 N. Washington Ave., Scranton, PA 18503. Residents requiring services should visit www.scrantonpa.gov
ABOUT MAYOR PAIGE G. COGNETTI: Paige G. Cognetti was sworn in as the 36th Mayor of Scranton in January 2020. Her administration is focused on driving economic growth, upgrading infrastructure, ensuring public safety, fostering government transparency and efficiency, and improving residents’ overall quality of life.
Scranton Seeks Construction Bids to Install Cricket Pitch at Chic Feldman Field | Press Release
Last modified: April 30, 2025
