New grants to the Chelsea Recreation Council from the Tigers Foundation and the Chelsea Community Foundation will spruce up several baseball fields at Chelsea High School and Beach Middle School this spring, including opening one for kids’ softball and baseball that was previously deemed unplayable.
(See photos of its previous condition at left; click for a larger view.)
Chelsea High School Field 1, which is to the left of the old tennis courts at CHS, is first on the list (and was previously unplayable). Michelle Mitchell of Chelsea Rec said work there began last year, and the grants will allow it to be completed this year in April, with an eye towards using it for teams in May, weather permitting.
The total cost of reopening the field is $30,000. Some of that was paid for last year; most of the rest will come from two grants of $12,000 each from the Tigers Foundation and the Chelsea Community Foundation.
The remaining money will be used to begin improvements to fields at Beach Middle School.
Particpation in Chelsea Rec baseball and softball has risen steadily over the years. In 2003, there were 491 players in spring/summer baseball and softball programs. This summer, 589 children of all ages have already registered.
The grants helped cover the shortfall when the school district and the Council ran out of money to care for the fields, Mitchell said. The total bill for renovations to all fields is $70,000, which the council is still working on.
“We are not talking about building youth baseball and softball Taj Mahal,” said a statement from the Council. “We are simply talking about giving the fields a facelift that will make them safe and playable.”
Included in the total amount are the following renovations, according to the statement:
“Chelsea High School Field 1 and 2, new backstop, new netting for foul balls, new safety fences for players, benches for players, removable pitching rubbers, and infield compound and clay bricks.
“Beach Fields 1 and 2 will receive removable pitching rubbers, and infield compound and clay bricks.
“South Fields 1 and 2 will receive infield compound and clay bricks.”
Part of the plan is to keep the fields open and playable through regular maintenance. Field rotations will be used so no one field becomes overplayed, and $5 of every baseball and softball registration fee will be applied to field maintenance – about $2,500 to $3,000 a year.
The Council is almost totally funded (96%) by activity registration fees.
Currently, plans are underway for a fundraising outing to a Detroit Tigers game in May to help support the fields. More information will be posted on Chelsea Update as plans for that trip firm up.
Tags: Chelsea, Chelsea High School, schools, Sports
