“One thing ball players don’t like is tall grass. They don’t care if there’s trash on the ground, but I do. Give them a smooth infield and short grass and they’ll be happy.”

Perry builds up the mound, evens out the homeplate area dirt, uses a large rake to loosen up the infield, chalks out the foul lines, searches the entire field for any uneven spots and holes, inspects for grubs and moles and maintains the warning track between the outfield green and the fence.

This is the first of several fields he prepares for the day.

A lot of work goes into daily field maintenance, Lansing Parks and Recreation Director Brett Kaschinske said.

“Kircher-Municipal Park is used six to seven days a week,” Kaschinske said. “It’s one of the very few public and full-sized lighted ball diamonds in Lansing. It’s been well-known for a number of years as a hotspot for baseball and will remain so for years to come.”

Perry said he enjoys being active, outdoors and on the ball diamond.

“I never worked inside an office, or been a suit-man,” Perry said. “I don’t like sitting all day.”
Perry filled out an application in 1989, and then worked as a seasonal employee for eight years, before working full-time at the park.

“I bided my time, kept coming back and moved up the ladder until I was offered a full-time position,” he said.

“I get compliments here and there,” Perry said. “I like to think I’m making a nice field.”