Signs support Lindsay Park improvements
By Jane Myhra
The first phase of an improvement project at Manawa’s Lindsay Athletic Park has been completed.
The project included seeding grass around the baseball infield; repairing and rerouting the fence; adding bullpens on each sideline; and adding a warning track to the outfield.
The Manawa Coaches Club coordinated the project, which began Aug. 12.
“There was no cost to taxpayers,” club chairman Carey Celske said. “It was funded by sign sponsorships.”
The project cost $3,200.
According to Celske, the project stayed under budget due to added donations: Spiegelberg Implement donated the use of a skid loader; Little Wolf Landscaping provided reduced cost of labor and donated the use of an edger; and Dave Augustine donated the use of irrigation equipment.
“The Coaches Club worked collaboratively with the city to complete the project,” Celske said. “The city coordinated well to repair and reroute the fencing for the dugouts during this entire project.”
Phase II will include seeding grass on the infield of the baseball diamond.
Celske encouraged local businesses to sponsor a sign at Lindsay Park to support the area’s youth sports programs.
“The number of games played at Lindsay Athletic Park outnumbers any other field in the city,” he said. “Lots of people see those signs between April and August.”
More than 50 BABA, high school, Little League, American Legion and Babe Ruth games are played on the baseball diamond alone.
“This number does not include girls’ softball tournaments and men’s league games,” Celske said.
The sign program began six years ago, Each business pays a $250 advertising fee every three years.
“We could not have made the improvements without these sponsors and the cooperation of the city of Manawa,” Celske said. “The Coaches Club is in the process of building a ‘field of dreams.’”