Houlton Rotary Club
The Houlton Area Little League’s Field of Dreams Project began to take shape back in 2007. It was obvious to the local Little League that the two fields at Community Park, were not meeting all of the needs of the growing area baseball and softball teams. With 11 teams, and nearly 150 baseball/softball players constantly vying for the use of these two fields, they felt it would be beneficial for the teams, and the youth of the community, to expand and create some more ball fields for our area youth. The goal was to create four more fields, including at least one field dedicated to the newly formed girl’s softball division. When completed, this would give the kids six ball fields in town to schedule games and practices on.
The support of the SAD 29 administration, school board members, and League volunteers were integral in making the project take shape. With the ball fields being constructed on school property, they would also be able to be used by kids at the Elementary and Southside schools during gym classes and recess. Including all of the groundwork which needed to be done, the budget for the project is estimated to be approximately $200,000. It would take almost $100, 000 just to cover the expense of the chain-link fence, backstops, dugouts, grass seed, infield mix, and numerous other miscellaneous expenses. All of the funds for the project are being raised by the Little League from donations of area businesses and residents, as well fund-raising projects.
One area business, The Savings Bank of Maine, was the first to donate $20,000 back in 2008. Savings Bank of Maine Field was completed last year and is being used this season by Houlton Area Little Leaguers.
The Maine Army National Guard’s 185th Engineer Support Company played a key role in accomplishing the brunt of the groundwork for the three remaining ball fields in the summer and fall of 2009. They logged over 2,000 man hours, 1,100-plus equipment hours, burned over 4,000 gallons of fuel, and hauled over 6,800 yards of fill for their part of the project. Many other Little League supporters have also graciously made financial contributions.
The Houlton Rotary Club made its first donation to the project right at its inception in 2007 with $1,000 in “seed money.” In 2008, the Club donated $5,000 and, last year, we committed our level of support to $20,000 with a $14,000 donation.
The new Rotary Field is now almost completed, and will be in use later this summer. Not only has the Houlton Rotary Club’s financial support for the Field of Dreams project been great, but also the yearly support for the Houlton Area Little League by many Houlton Rotarians continues to make the Little League successful. Over half of teams in the League are sponsored by businesses owned or operated by members of the Houlton Rotary Club.
The annual support of sponsors like these Rotarians is key to the success of the Houlton Area Little League, and it speaks volumes of their dedication and support of our area youth.
