Belchertown 7/8 Recreation Team Site

Rennovations to Austin-Gaughan Memorial Field

Belchertown Girls Softball

	Your Support Is Greatly Appreciated
	A Volunteer Effort by the Belchertown community in cooperation with the Recreation Department Scheduled for the weekend of April 18th Volunteers: We will begin the work between 8-8:30 Saturday morning

The Field

Austin-Gaughan Field is located on George Hanum Road and is used as for home games by some of the Belchertown Girls softball teams. The Belchertown Recreation Department along with the Department of Public Works oversees the care of this facility. And given their limited resources they do their best to keep the field in playing condition. They also face a big challenge because of the field's location. Austin-Gaughan has limited visibilty from George Hannum Road and has been subjected to vandalism, illegal operation of motor vehicles on the outfield grass and infield and other problems.

Our reasons for this project:

Assist the Town by providing volunteer resources to undertake some modifications and very much needed maintenance
Provide the girls softball teams with a safe and sustainable field for their use and for hosting their opponents
Show respect to Lieutenant Austin, Corporal Gaughan and their families
With an organized effort we intend to accomplish the follwing tasks:
- Edge the grass for the basepaths, infield and pitcher's mound
- Rake out the soil and add top dressing where needed
- Cut back the growth along the right field line
  UPDATE: BIG THANK YOU to Belchertown DPW for clearing this!!!
- Create a passable area behind the backstops
- Add an area to for pitchers to warm up in left and right field
- Clean the bleachers and if possible repaint them