The CLC YMCA recently shared some exciting news via social media and a membership email that tells a true story of what happens when community-minded, caring leaders come together to make things better than imagined.
Due to the generosity of Justin Hagar and his family, JF Scott Construction, and local lumber companies, the Petrillo Baseball Field at the Central Lincoln County YMCA is being added to the capital renovation and construction project. This additional project budget item is being funded through the community partners noted above and below.
How it came to be: As the CLC YMCA team met with Central Maine Power and the electrical engineers to design a plan for upgrading to three-phase electricity, it was decided to bury the lines rather than add three new poles and have lines running from the street through the poles to the Y, which come both at an expense and, quite frankly, an eyesore. Due to connecting to town water and sewer as part of the overall project budget, the parking lot needed to be dug up to lay these lines, so the electric and fiber lines were buried as well.
As this piece of the project was completed, Hagar looked to the left of the parking lot toward the building and began thinking of ways to improve the baseball field. He asked to meet with CLC YMCA CEO Meagan Hamblett and members of the construction management firm. A representative from the little league was also invited to participate in that conversation.
As a result of that initial meeting last week, and now in hopes of getting the majority of the work done before school begins, the following has or will soon occur:
1) Removal of three of the four nonfunctioning and antiquated light poles and lights has been completed.
2) The fourth light pole will remain as it is the home to a family of ospreys, but the plan is to remove the antiquated lights from the fourth pole in a few weeks.
3) Hagar installed a new French drain along the entire area between the field and the American Legion, around the backstop, and then it will connect to the new piping that will run under the soil filter. For anyone who has played on this field or has been a spectator over the years, they know how wet the field gets. This is a huge improvement.
4) Once the above is completed, the infield of the ball field will be sodded, thanks to the Hagar family.
5) Upgraded dugouts: JF Scott Construction, as a donation to the Y and the community, is developing a plan to expand upon and upgrade the current dugouts. Justin Hagar and JF Scott Construction are working on donations for the materials through two local lumber companies, and staff at JF Scott Construction will build the dugouts. The Little League will secure volunteers to paint the dugouts once they are built.
6) There is an existing electrical source to the side of the field and the hope is to move that source closer to the concession stand. Hagar is working on finding an electrical contractor to tackle this.
7) Hagar hopes to pave the path between the school and the Y. Then the remainder of the path from the ball field connecting to the new sidewalk at the Y, once the parking lot is finished, will be laid with small stone. All wood chips will be removed near the ball field as a request from the Little League.
8) Once the back ditch has been repaired as part of the original project budget, Hagar will smooth out a new area for spectators.
9) Hagar is working on a way to either repair, or better yet, replace the ancient backstop.
10) Finally, it is the hope to replace the existing scoreboard and the Y will work with our local sign companies to come up with a solution.
The CLC YMCA is grateful and appreciative of the community support that is necessary for the Y to exist, thrive, and have a lasting healthy and positive impact on the community we serve: #wearemorethanagym,weareacause.
