After years of neglect and a serious fire, Old Orchard Beach Ballpark -- the former home of the Maine Guides (Class AAA; International League) -- has been restored by volunteers and will host baseball again in the spring.

Just a few more things need to be done, according to the folks working on the renovation, who estimate that 90 percent of the restoration work is complete. Over the last two years the hardest work was done: the weeds covering the playing field were cut back, the fire damage in the suites was repaired, and the place was given a good cleaning. Still to be done: the right-field fence and mound is being built this week, with the last bit of sod going in by the weekend. Then the playing field will be fully irrigated and sodded by Sunday.

Good thing, too: there will be games played there next year, including a small-college national tournament in May.

This doesn't happen very often. Because the renovations efforts have succeeded, we've removed the Old Orchard Beach Ballpark from our Endangered Ballparks list.

Subscribers to the weekly Ballpark Digest newsletter see features before they're posted to the site. You can sign up for a free subscription at the Newsletter Signup Page.

Join Ballpark Digest on Facebook and on Twitter!