Youth group to foot bill for upgrading park diamonds

Organizers of youth baseball and softball in Fredonia have decided to dip into their bank account to pay for improvements at Fireman’s Park and hope that fundraising to come will help restore those funds.

“Basically, we took money from the kids’ registration. The baseball club approved spending the money out of registration money,” said Billy Mills, a member of the youth organization.

The Ozaukee Warriors Softball/Baseball Association will spend about $12,000 to put in a new backstop and chain link fence on the first and third-base sides of the park diamond.

“We still don’t have money for players’ benches, and we’re still looking for scoreboard money,” Mills said.

But with the improvements they already have planned, organizers feel confident they can host a tournament the weekend of June 22, which by itself will help raise money, Mills said.

He said the tournament will mainly consist of other teams from the Kettle Moraine League, in which Fredonia teams play.

The league also is trying to raise money for two other fields at Waubedonia Park and at Oak Park.

Waubedonia Park is owned by the county. The association’s use of Oak Park has been donated by Milwaukee NC Machining Co. for the past 30 years. Fireman’s Park is owned by the Village of Fredonia.

Mills expects about 150 kids to play this summer.

He said he’s hoping businesses, individuals and the village will step forward to help continue funding improvements.