THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 16, 1994 TAG: 9410140230
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 23 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Sports
SOURCE: BY PATRICIA HUANG, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines
After years of planning, the Great Bridge Baseball Association has completed laying the groundwork - literally - to their 12-diamond dream ballpark near Hickory.
Drainage and septic systems, field cutting, road cutting and grading are nearly finished, and the rest of the work on the Charlton-Mott Youth Complex is expected to be done in time for the park's grand opening in six months.
The Pony league youth baseball complex will include three clusters of four fields each with picnic tables, swing sets and jungle gyms in a 90-acre park.
With 1,600 children, the Great Bridge Baseball Association, is the 11th largest youth baseball association in the country and the fifth largest on the East Coast, according to Sherry M. Simmons, an association member.
Most youth baseball associations have only about 400 children, Simmons said, ``But we grew by that much last year.
``The need (for baseball fields) is so great with the growth and the city doesn't have anything like this. It's just an urgent, urgent need.''
Now hundreds of Chesapeake children are restricted to playing ball in a only a handful of local fields, such as those at Butts Road Primary School and Great Bridge Primary School.
So far, the association has spent about $650,000 for the purchase of the southern Great Bridge land off of Eason Road and much of the initial construction. The first phase of construction, which will bring the complex's first five lighted fields to completion on April 15, is expected to cost $950,000. The entire project, which members expect will take three to four years to finish, is estimated at $1.4 million.
``Once you get talking about it you really get excited,'' said Ron Rigby, sponsor committee director for the association. ``My excitement is for the kids and knowing that they'll be able to play ball there for years to come.''
The 34-year-old association is soliciting funds mostly through private and corporate donations. It is also seeking grants from companies such as Coca-Cola, Norfolk Southern and General Foods, and non-cash contributions such as labor or building material.
Currently, the association is hoping to entice donations through the sale of engraved plaza bricks. Donors can have their family name engraved into a special brick for about $60. The bricks will then be used to build a terrace and flagpole base in the complex.
On Nov. 12, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the public will be invited to the complex's first exhibition day to view its progress. Food and games will be available. MEMO: Information about cash or non-cash donations to the baseball complex is
available by calling 547-4883 or by writing to Great Bridge Baseball
Inc., 200 North Battlefield Blvd., Suite 101, Chesapeake, Va.
23320-3975.
ILLUSTRATION: Aerial photo
The Great Bridge Baseball Association has begun work on its
12-diamond ballpark.
by CNB