A new field is starting to take shape at Walker Stadium.

A City of Portland crew has been working at the 59-year-old baseball park since early July, and hydroseeding of the new rye turf is scheduled for Friday.

If all goes well, the grass should begin popping up about 10 days later.

Work on other parts of the stadium will follow, with the grandstands moving a bit closer to the field as the stadium capacity grows to about 1,500, with 1,000 permanent seats with backs.

The upgrades are all part of preparations for the inaugural season of the Portland Pickles, a summer college wood-bat baseball team. The Pickles are slated to open a 60-game season on June 3. The team will play 30 home games at the Lents Park site.

The Pickles are part of the new Great West League. Portland and three teams in California (the Chico Heat, Lodi Crushers and Marysville Gold Sox) have been announced, so far, as first-year members. Two more teams are expected to join the league this month, with a league schedule to be released shortly thereafter.

Ken Wilson, Pickles co-owner and a former Seattle Mariners broadcaster who lives in Portland, says season tickets will go on sale Oct. 10.

A former Oregon Ducks shortstop, J.J. Altobelli, has been selected to manage the Pickles. He is recruiting players and assistant coaches.