Wilmington Township and the Girl’s Wilmington Area Softball Association are teaming up to renovate Hoyt Softball Field on St. Rt. 158. In 2005, the Hoyt Foundation gave Wilmington Township 10.5 acres to be used solely for the purpose of children. The old American Legion building is on this property, along with a softball field, and it has been used for years. However, the softball association has grown to where they need more fields, and the building is aging.
The softball association met with supervisors Dan Kennedy, Brian Swisher, and John Zehner, asking for help to put in another softball field, renovate the building by adding handicapped restrooms and parking, updating the kitchen area to be used for a concession stand, replace the roof that was leaking, and put in water and sewer. The supervisors agreed and stated they would help by using $10,000 of their American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money. The land was surveyed, a new roof put on the building, last week they installed a new culvert under the driveway and along the front of the land. They had talked to Lindy Paving about giving us their pavement millings and fill dirt. Shields Paving, who will be doing work on state roads soon, will donate their millings and dirt as well. They were able to roll some of the millings onto the old gravel parking lot, making it nice and flat. John Zehner has organized a group to come and donate their time to power wash the building, caulk around the windows, and do general clean-up. Eric McClelland, from McClelland Services, has donated many hours cutting grass at the facility each week, and is enlarging the parking area for us with his equipment. He will help level off and fill in an area that will be the 2nd softball field, behind the first.
The softball association has received $10,000 from the Almira Foundation, and has applied to the Caroline Knox Foundation, the Hoyt Foundation, and the County Commissioners for funds. Once awarded this money, they can get the ball field finished with dugouts, fencing, and bases. With the money that is left, the renovations can begin inside the building. If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to Wilmington Area Softball Association, (They are a 501(C)3 organization) you can mail a check, made out to the Wilmington Area Softball Association, mail it to Wilmington Township, 669 Wilson Mill Road, New Castle, PA 16105, Attn: Andrea, or go to https://www.comm-foundation.org and when prompted where to apply funds, type in Wilmington Area Softball Association Field of Dreams Fund.