The expression "field of dreams" might be a bit over-used, but in reference to the renovation of a South Little League baseball field, it could not be more appropriate, according to Jamie Flick, league vice president.
"(The expression) might be worn out, but that's truly what it is," Flick said Monday as he stood watching contractors move dirt at the Lions' Little League Baseball field on Southern Avenue in the borough.
The field, which is one of the oldest Little League fields in the nation, is in disrepair and the league has embarked on a multi-phase project to upgrade it.
The first phase of the project, which focuses primarily on field upgrades, will cost an estimated $120,000.
Flick and the league board of directors aren't relying on dreams alone to transform the historic field.
They've put plenty of sweat and hard work into it, as well, he said. That work includes fund raising that already has brought in $75,000, he said.
The quest to raise money for the project continues Saturday with league's annual Turkey Trot, a 5-K race on the Susquehanna River Walk.
Now in its third year, the Turkey Trot, has attracted runners - and walkers - from five states and is expected this year to raise $15,000 in registration fees and sponsorships.
The field used to be a dump in the 1920s and 1930s, according to David A. Geise, also a vice president with the league.
In the late 1940s, the South Williamsport Lions Club invested $4,000 - a sizable amount of money in those days - and the workers to build a Little League field on the site, Geise said. The club has sponsored one or more teams since then, but no longer owns the field, which now is the property of the borough.
The field has seen better days. Fencing and other structures on the field are old and in disrepair. Little League International rules also require the outfield fence to be moved back to accommodate all-star tournament play.
In addition to being run down, the field, which is one of seven fields maintained by the league, suffers from severe drainage problems.
"The field, over the years, drained inward," Flick said. "This year with all the rain we had, we'd be here from noon until 6 p.m. removing water from the field so they could play at 6 p.m."
The league contracted with Slingerland Landscaping to level the field. The company provides landscaping services for other Little League organizations, including Little League International, Geise said.
"They are very experienced," he said. "They are the best at doing this kind of work."
There also has been a drainage system installed in the field, he said.
The outfield fence has been removed and will be moved back and replaced with a wooden fence reminiscent of fences from the 1950s, Geise said.
A paved basketball court more than 100 feet long was shortened to 84 feet to make room for the longer outfield fences. Before it was shortened, the court was too long for full-court play, Flick said.
A tall chain link fence that separated a nearby playground from the field has been removed and will not be replaced, Flick said. That will allow free movement between the playing field and the playground, which was not possible when the playground fencing was in place, he said.
"Before (kids using the playground) were isolated. There was no flow," Flick said. "They'd have to leave the playground and walk through the parking lot to access the field and vice versa."
Parents attending Little League games were reluctant to allow their non-playing children to use the playground because of the fence, Flick said. Not only did it restrict safe movement between the two facilities, it also made it difficult for parents to keep an eye on the playground, he said.
The area between the playground and ballfield's outfield fence has been elevated, which will provide a viewing area for spectators, Geise said.
A gas industry company, Guardian of McElhattan, recently donated a $4,000 scoreboard, he said, adding that he hopes other businesses will follow suit by adopting other aspects of the field upgrade, such as the fencing, sodding and dugout renovations.
Other improvements include upgrades to the press box and concession areas. However, the main focus is on the field, Geise said.
"We're hoping the field will be ready close to opening day next spring," he said.
Flick said that could hinge on whether enough money can be raised to buy sod for the field.
"If we don't raise enough money to buy sod, we'll have to plant grass, and that will set us back a year," he said.
Flick said the organization has received no money from the borough or Little League International for the upgrades. The entire project is being funded through donations and fund raising events, he said.
South Little League is one of the oldest Little League organizations, harkening back to the league's formative years. Today it boasts 250 players who participate in the T-ball, minor league, major league, girls softball and challenger divisions.
Eligible players live in the borough or the eastern portion of Armstrong Township.
Flick said the organization has received support from the borough, the local community and the school district. Organization volunteers, including its board of directors, have worked tirelessly to make the league a vibrant asset to the community, he said.
For more information about the league, Saturday's Turkey Trot 5-K race, or to make a donation, log on to www.southll.com.
