Politics & Government

Babe Ruth Field Proposed for Pfizer Field

'Fund 8' Appropriation Requested for New Field, Other Improvements

When the Town Council meets tonight, one of its items of business will be to consider whether the town should appropriate $60,000 from the Parks and Recreation Capital Non-Recurring Fund, aka “Fund 8,” for facilities improvements.

Those improvements would include $45,000 for a Babe Ruth baseball field to be constructed at Pfizer Field off Stoddard’s Wharf Road.

Parks and Recreation Director Don Grise said the field would replace the Babe Ruth Field that was lost at the Gales Ferry Middle School complex when the infield and backstop were removed to accommodate girls’ lacrosse.

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There are eight fields in town where Little League minors games can be played, including two fields at both the Judge Crandall sports complex and Pfizer Field, single fields at Colonel Ledyard, Algen Heights and Christy Hill parks and one at Juliet W. Long School.

Right now, the baseball field at Ledyard High School is the only venue in town suitable for Babe Ruth competition.

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Grise said the new Babe Ruth field at Pfizer Field would be constructed on the site of  the two of the Little League fields. Those games would be moved to the Crandall complex.

Also requested is $10,500 for three playing fields – at Purdy, Clark and Crandall parks – to be dressed with organic compost, and another $4,500 to purchase and repair the doors and steps on the department's mobile restrooms, which are used at large outdoor events.

Grise emphasized that the improvements would be paid for out of the department’s “Fund 8,” which is financed by a small portion of the real estate conveyance taxes paid to the town. The fund is maintained for capital improvements.

If the council approves the requests, residents would have a chance to consider the measure at a special town meeting to be held on March 23 at 7:15 p.m. in the Town Hall Annex.


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