Donation energizes drive to make Field of Dreams a reality
A donation of $20,141 made to the Craig County Recreation and Conservation Association two weeks ago has brought renewed energy and determination to the organization. The association is made up of volunteers who are trying with all their might to bring to fruition a dream of having a place for kids to play ball and for everyone in the community to enjoy coming together as families for fun and recreation.
The large sum of money was donated by a benevolent group of woodcutters who thought ball fields were a good idea so they got together on Saturdays and other days whenever they could and cut, sawed, split, loaded on dump trucks and delivered more than 100 loads of wood to customers in and around New Castle. Some of the wood they even gave away to people who had a real need for it in order to make it through the winter.
The CCRCA’s Lady Rockets take a break in one of the new dugouts at the Fairgrounds. Photo by Gwen Johnson
While the group maintained a basic core there were always a new faces showing up to lend a hand. These dedicated workers used their own time, equipment (such as back-hoes, chain saws, wood splitters, and dump trucks) and furnished the labor and fuel to run all of it.
Although some of these fellows ranged in age from late 60s to middle 70s, they never complained or expected anything in return. “They were and are just people who have a driving need to improve life for the youth and families of Craig County,” said Don Charlton president of the Fairgrounds Committee.
According to Debbie Snead, chairman of the Industrial Development Authority that owns the 18 acres on which the sports complex is being built, awareness and dedication are two key words for all those involved with the “Field of Dreams” projects.
Snead can’t say enough about the absolute dedication everyone who is or ever has been involved with the project has shown. She also believes it is vital to keep members of the organization as well as the public aware of what is going on, and that has been the hard part up until now.
So much of what has happened in the past year has been behind the scenes, for one thing. Another is the fact that on more than one occasion volunteers have spent weeks and months pursuing a particular plan only to run into a dead end through no particular fault of any individual or group. Progress has been slow and disappointments have been many according to Tracy Surface, president of the CCRCA, but good things are happening and have been all along.
The 18 acres the CCRCA calls the Field of Dreams has already been paid for in full with the help of a grant from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation and much hard work and fundraisers by members of the organization. And thanks to Mike Greiser, a Naval Construction Battalion Reserve Unit, parents and coaches, the property has now been staked and is ready for workers to do the grading and excavation necessary to level the field and set the infrastructure for water and sewer.
Greiser, who is a retired civil engineer and newcomer to Craig County, estimated there are 35,000 cubic yards of soil that needs to be moved at an estimated cost of $150,000 if done commercially. Currently the organization is exploring ways to rent the equipment and have qualified operators within the county complete the work for less cost.
“No matter how we accomplish this second major phase, it is a monumental project,” Snead said, but it doesn’t deter any of us from having the enthusiasm necessary to complete the job.”
Snead said she, Greiser and Surface recently toured ball fields in Dublin, Va., that were developed in a similar fashion as plans for the Craig County complex. “So we know it can be done. We gathered tons of information on what to do and what not to do!”
Meanwhile, through a joint effort of the CCRCA and members of the Fairgrounds Committee, a standard playing field has been established at the fairgrounds, complete with two covered dugouts. The dugouts were definitely a community effort, said Eugene Hannah, chairman of the Fairgrounds Association.
Ricky Smith of Smith Lumber and Metal located directly behind the fairgrounds built the dugouts with the exception of the two seats built by Mike Ouellette and flooring done by Sam Dillon.
“The opening and refurbishing of the fair grounds has been a big asset to us,” Surface said. “Not only do we have our own playing field there now, but the proceeds of some of the events held there come to us.” The old fairgrounds was renovated and re-opened last year so it could be used for fund-raising events that would benefit the Field of Dreams and other organizations who wished to use it.
Both the Fair Grounds and the 18 acres for the sports complex are owned by the Industrial Development Authority and the Craig County Youth and Community Services Board (CCY&CSB). Currently the CCRCA and the FGA are working toward getting their own 501(c)3.
In April the State Corporation Commission approved the CCFA and the CCRCA for Certificates of Incorporation (Charters).
“One of our biggest needs at this time is volunteers,” Surface said. “CCRCA members are currently extremely busy carrying out all the responsibilities necessary to fund, plan, uniform, referee, deal with parents and coach baseball, softball, soccer, basketball and T-ball on any flat place we can find in the county. And Sheri Sloss, our director of sports, does a terrific job of pulling all of this together.”
In addition to all the major activities there is an ongoing need for help with fundraisers, concessions at the ball fields and the fairgrounds, coaching, uniforms and so many things. “We really need the help of the parents to keep all of this going,” Surface added.
If you are able to lend a hand please get in touch with Tracy Surface at (540) 864-6641 or Sheri Sloss at (540) 864-8387.
I am always a day late and a dollar short, but all I can say is, what a wonderful effort by all!!!