Ball Diamonds at Atwood Richey Park to Receive Makeover

By Doris Elmore
Staff Writer

A special meeting regarding a makeover of the ball diamonds at Atwood Richey Park was held on Wednesday, July 22, at 5 p.m. Trustee Haley Ely, chairman of the park committee, requested the meeting in order to ask for additional money for this much needed park project. Total cost of the project will be $14,000.

According to Ely, the reason the project was started last year was to correct the infields to help with flooding and moisture. It has been several years since work like this has been done to the fields. With all leagues put on hold this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, this is the opportunity to get the work accomplished before the leagues resume next summer.

The project was estimated at $10,000 for materials, but to add the conditioner needed to help with field moisture, an additional $4,000 was needed to complete project costs.

Kyle Gingerich is in charge of the work, but Haley says she has several volunteers lined up to assist. Many of them are farmers so she would like to see the work done before harvest. Ely stated, “Farmers in the community will play a major part in the work. We will need to be prepared to work with their schedules due to harvest season approaching. If this project is held back, I do not want to take the chance in lost interest or availability.” She added, “Product availability and inflation is another concern. I do not want to fall victim to supply and demand. This could cause inflation that we may not be able to afford.”

The work is being paid by donations of Atwood Youth League: $3,000, Atwood Economic Development Committee: $3,000; $4,000 from last year’s park budget and $4,000 from the 2020 park budget for a total of $14,000.