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Sandlot

The “Sandlot Project” is a grassroots effort of concerned parents and community volunteers who transformed a modest T-ball/Rookie practice field on town-owned property on Rt. 118 to a regulation size Little League/Softball diamond and Soccer Field, surrounded by a 1/4-mile walking track.

Starting in October of 2002, the Sandlot Committee began work to renovate the field. The Town of Waterford appropriated funds in March of 2003 toward a well, which is also used by the adjacent Pulpit Rock Cemetery and as a resource for fire protection. Private donations of heavy equipment and labor from April through October of 2003 corrected a six foot elevation difference between home plate and the outfield and prepared the field for irrigation, fencing and seeding.

SLGroup07

Photographed May 26, 2007 in front of the new playground equipment at the Sandlot were, from left: Adrien and Jackie Morin, Bill and Gretchen Strauss, Jeff and Corinna Beebe, Donald and Trish Logan, Tom and Sam Murch and Yvon Morin (light blue in back). 

In March of 2004, townspeople appropriated an additional $36,000 to be used to install automated irrigation, fencing and to seed the field. A grant in the amount of $21,777.50 from Major League Baseball’s “Baseball Tomorrow Fund" paid for infield reparation, dugouts, bleachers and much of the equipment needed to outfit the new girls' softball program. The grand opening for the new Sandlot Athletic Complex was held in May 2005.

In the fall of 2006, General Mills awarded a $5,400 "My Hometown Helper" grant. Townspeople contributed another $15,000 in March of 2007 toward the purchase and installation of playground equipment. A donated basketball hoop was also installed.

Members of the Sandlot Committee at that time were Corinna & Jeff Beebe, Tom & Samatha Murch, Bill & Gretchen Strauss, Adrien Morin and Yvon Morin.