Ball field grant a possibility

By AMBER DILLEY
Glasgow Daily Times

GLASGOW June 26, 2009 12:09 pm

— The county children’s softball and baseball fields may be getting some help in construction soon from the Baseball Tomorrow Fund.
The Barren County Fiscal Court approved a resolution authorizing Judge-Executive Davie Greer to file an application and execute any documents that are deemed necessary by the BTF for a grant to create two additional baseball fields.
“We’re asking for $53,000,” Greer said. “In the e-mail, they said that probably the most they would give would be $39,000. That will take care of one field at least and we’ve got the match for the rest of it.”
The complex has two fields completed already: a Babe Ruth league field and a girl’s softball league field.
“There’s room for two more behind those and they’ll be Cal Ripken little league fields,” Greer said.
The match for the funds will come from the county recreation department fund.
The fund includes money for the fields already, so if the county receives the BTF, they’ll be able to use BTF money for restrooms, fences and other equipment for the fields.
“We’ll have an extra $39,000 to do what we want with for these fields,” said Magistrate Carl Dickerson.
The Baseball Tomorrow Fund is a joint initiative between Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association, established in 1999 through a $10 million committent by both.
The mission of BTF is to promote and enhance the growth of youth through participation in the game.
Grants are designed to be flexible to enable applicants to address needs unique to the communities. The funds are intended to finance a new program, expand or improve an existing program or get facilities or equipment.
Since 2001, the groups in charge of five fields in Kentucky have received money through the BTF.