August 21, 2010
LYNN NAGLE
Chatham This Week
Baseball players, fans and local politicians were on hand to celebrate the grand opening of the newly renovated Rotary Park and Grandstand at Fergie Jenkins Field on Aug. 21.
Jason Chickowski, Project Coordinator for Chatham Minor Baseball Association proudly told the crowd the new grandstand was constructed by Westhoek Construction and Fab Tech Welding, using products supplied within Chatham-Kent where possible.
The grandstand is now fully accessible and capable of supporting regional and provincial sporting events. Upgrades were also made to the lighting, dugouts and fencing.
Rick Bedard, Chairman for CMBA thanked the three levels of government that approved and helped fund the $425,880 project.
Many other organizations stepped forward with financial support to help enhance the facilities. They include the Rotary Club, the Ontario Trillium Foundation, McGeachy Charitable Foundation, CMBA, Chatham-Kent Community Foundation and the Enabling Accessibility Fund.
"Investment in recreational amenities is a high priority with Chatham-Kent Council," said Mayor Randy Hope. "Sports facilities improve our health and our quality of life. They engage citizens in community-building activities and they attract visitors, helping us to reach out to other communities. This is a great investment."
Former players, Mike Murphy and Ed Robbins, passed baseballs to new generation players Alex and Luke Chickowski for the ceremonial first pitch. The balls were caught by past generation players Ed Myers and Chuck Rylett and then returned to the new players Alex and Luke as keepsakes.
Doc Miller, Bill Atkinson and Fergie Jenkins, former baseball players from Chatham, were remembered at the ceremony.
This article also appeared in the Wallaceburg Courier Press
About Lynn Nagle
Ms. Nagle has been a prolific freelance writer for major publication across Ontario, and also writes for Corporations, Associations and Magazines.
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