Field Of Dreams? Maybe So...

Here is my latest news story from www.iberkshires.com. Go check out the site for all things New England and Berkshire County Massachusetts...


By Brian Flagg - January 26, 2008

NORTH ADAMS - As communities across the country look to help improve the quality of life for their young residents, sometimes progress takes a back seat to politics and personal agendas. It is difficult for officials, residents and volunteers, who all have varying ideas, to meet in the middle and put plans into action. From idea to implementation, there are many road blocks and disagreements that do nothing more than result in hard feelings and incomplete projects.

In North Adams, it looks like they got it right. The city's athletic fields and facilities are seemingly springing to life and it has been the result of hard work and dedication from everyone involved.

Important To The City

"We think it's a very important part of the community," said Mayor John Barrett III earlier this week. The mayor added that "the city has invested heavily" in the old National Guard Armory on Ashland Street and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Skating Rink on South Church Street as well.

A complete renovation of the Armory floor has just been completed and is home to the North Adams Youth Basketball League. The city has taken on the enormous task of running and maintaining the rink as well to help the youth hockey, figure skating and recreational skating contingent.

Improving The Fields

On quite a larger scale, two outdoor athletic facilities have "new face-lifts" as well. At the corner of Houghton and River streets, in the back yard of the Porches inn, old residences and torn-up lots were demolished to make way for a playground, track and practice/game facility complete with lights for various leagues and local children.

Kids can be seen almost every day playing at the new playground and all summer and fall, lights could be seen shining late into the evening for soccer and football teams. Though this facility does not have a name yet, the mayor did say there have been a couple proposed.

The West End boasts a much larger, much more costlier project. At the end of Taft and New streets sat an old, oft-used but difficult to maintain "sports complex."

With one softball field that had poor drainage, no dugouts, big holes in the outfield grass and little parking, it was always a topic of conversation: How can we fix it up? How can it benefit the community?

With the collaboration of the mayor, the Parks and Recreation Commission and various volunteer groups, the task got under way to get grant money and do some fundraising to renovate the park.

"I have been involved for about 20 years and it is has been a long process," said Francis Millard, chairman of the Parks and Recreation Committee. "But the bottom line is we have come a long way in the last 10 years."

The fields, named for the late City Councilor Daniel Alcombright, has undergone some drastic changes in the past couple of years.

"We have about a million dollars into the field so far," said Barrett, referring to to the fact that there have been playing fields added for softball, baseball, T-ball and soccer. There have been some parking facilities constructed as well but more are needed.

Barrett recognizes that parking is an issue but said the money earmarked for the project has been held up because of the state's financial position. He foresees another three to five years working on the project but feels it will be well worth the wait.

Lighting The Park

One of the most expensive parts of any athletic complex is the lighting. Alcombright Athletic Field has money in the budget for lighting but, unfortunately, that is in Phase III. Since the third portion of the funding is on hold, some volunteer groups have tried to do their part to help raise some money.

Nancy Bullett, a former committee member, coordinated two golf tournaments and a bowling tournament in 2007 for the cause.

"Softball is my passion. I want to see lights on that softball field," she said. Everyone feels confident the lighting will eventually be in and Millard added to the conversation, "we have very patient groups."

Future Plans

More renovations are planned for the fields in the West End, like concession stands and rest room facilities, but there are other agenda items as well.

"Ideally, we would like to bring high school football back to Noel Field," Barrett said, looking into his crystal ball. In the days of John J. DelNegro, for whom the Drury High School field is named, the games were played at the complex now named for longtime coach and youth sports "fanatic" Joe Wolfe.

With college baseball, city basketball leagues and softball leagues and youth football already using the complex the next logical step would be to get the high school back down there. There are some inherent issues, however, such as the maintenance.

"We are going to a synthetic surface down there," said Barrett. The fields are used so often by so many that it "is a mess" most of the time, he said.

Longtime Dreams

There are city residents who have wanted to see this renovation project for many years.

For lifelong resident Margaret LeClair, "This was her baby," said Millard of the Alcombright fields.

Millard said LeClair lived in a house on the corner near the West End fields and "wanted to see this for a long time. Someone should mention that."

"With respect to the Alcombright name on the sign. ... The complex stands for so many of the wonderful qualities that my father had. He was very committed to youth, very committed to the community and very committed to quality of life in his home town," said City Councilor Richard Alcombright, for whose father the field complex is named.

"Our family could not think of a better tribute to his memory than a complex in the West End of the city that supports our youth, increases quality of life, and basically just makes a lot of people happy. My dad would be very proud of that complex and all those who made it happen."