Tommy Forrest Ball Park has gone through a total transformation from the dust bowl days to what it looks like now.

The only problem is that the park hadnSA国际影视传媒檛 really had a celebration to mark the work thatSA国际影视传媒檚 been done because of Covid-19. That was until June 23.

The park had its official grand reopening that evening, complete with speeches from those involved in helping get the site to its rebuilt state. In addition, some exhibition games were held featuring players from the Yk Fastball League and Yk Minor Fastball.

Steve Thomas, vice-president of the adult fastball league, said the evening was held in conjunction with the annual Family Day at the Ballpark.

SA国际影视传媒淲e usually get a real good crowd for that, so we decided why not hold both events together and create a really nice atmosphere?SA国际影视传媒� he said.

The final piece of the parkSA国际影视传媒檚 revitalization was installed in 2020 with the playground situated behind the field, but pandemic restrictions continued to interfere with a celebration.

SA国际影视传媒淲e were always optimistic we could do something,SA国际影视传媒� said Thomas. SA国际影视传媒淲e wanted to try last year, but we had the big (Covid) outbreak that spring. We knew it would be over with eventually and now with everything seemingly getting back to normal, it worked out that we were able to put it all together.SA国际影视传媒�

The evening began with a description of what has changed over the years with nearly everything replaced since the work began in 2015: new dugouts, new backstop behind home plate, new fencing around the beer garden, new bleachers, new grass, new netting to protect the surrounding roadways (particularly the busy Franklin Avenue), a new concession area, and the playground.

Following that, it was time for some speeches from guests such as Mayor Rebecca Alty, longtime player and administrator Paul Gard, and Rob Johnson, co-ordinator of the Tommy Forrest Field Revitalization Project.

Johnson said itSA国际影视传媒檚 surreal to look back to the days when there was essentially no grass in the outfield.

SA国际影视传媒淚 remember when I started playing, we were out at Parker Park,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲e were excited to play at Tommy Forrest because there were real dugouts and bleachers, but the lack of grass was the big thing. It just kept deteriorating over time and it seems so strange now to see it and remember what it used to be like.SA国际影视传媒�

Although the grass was a welcome addition, Johnson said it was actually the dugouts that were replaced first.

SA国际影视传媒淲e went to the city SA国际影视传媒� itSA国际影视传媒檚 their land SA国际影视传媒� and we asked them if they could help us with that,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭hey sent over a backhoe and dug everything up and filled it in with gravel, then the new dugouts were put up.SA国际影视传媒�

At the time of the playgroundSA国际影视传媒檚 opening in 2020, Garrett Hinchey, then-president of the Yk Fastball League, said the grass installation was the catalyst for giving the park as much of a face-lift as possible.

A huge Chase The Ace raffle in 2017 netted the league more than $500,000 to put toward the initiative.

SA国际影视传媒淭he Chase The Ace went beyond even our wildest expectations,SA国际影视传媒� said Hinchey at the time. SA国际影视传媒淣ow we had a lot of money and so we put together a plan to take to the city.SA国际影视传媒�

That plan involved the league and the city agreeing on a three-year deal in 2018 to fix things up. Under the terms of the agreement, the league put in $140,000 per year while the city topped it up with $60,000 per year.

Alty was part of the council in 2018 that voted in favour of the agreement.

She was on hand for the grand reopening to deliver some remarks and said itSA国际影视传媒檚 been quite the transformation.

SA国际影视传媒淚 can still remember the pitch from the fastball league on a cold November night all those years ago,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭hey had dreams of new grass and new bleachers and a new scoreboard. It sounded really good, and I always had the confidence that the crew behind it could get it done. I wouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 have supported it back then if I didnSA国际影视传媒檛 think they could.

SA国际影视传媒淎s someone who has raised a lot of money in the past, I can tell you itSA国际影视传媒檚 easier said than done,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 just great to see so many people of all ages enjoying the area, the playground looks great, more youth are playing softball SA国际影视传媒� itSA国际影视传媒檚 become a real community space. I like to call (the fastball league) a group of dreamers and doers and they did it.SA国际影视传媒�

Now that everything has come together, Johnson said he couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 have imagined how well everything would turn out.

SA国际影视传媒淚t was such a privilege to be a part of this,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淥ur original budget was something, like, $225,000, but the Chase The Ace blew us past that and the league just said to keep on going to see what we could do now that we had the money. The city has been a great partner. We had a lot of help from great businesses in town and so many other people who gave their time. The diamond is in use every day, it seems, and it makes you smile.SA国际影视传媒�