Crews will break ground late this year to renovate the boy’s baseball field at W.F. West High School.
The facility will give the players the ability to practice, and hold games and tournaments regardless of the weather, stated the Chehalis Foundation in a news release.
“This is an exciting time for Bearcat Baseball and the Chehalis community. These improvements will change the utilization of the baseball field completely, allowing usage to expand from just a few months a year to year-round and putting us on the map for future tournaments and events. All of which drives funding to our community and, most importantly, the kids,” said Tyler McCallum, president of McCallum Rock Drilling, a Chehalis drilling contractor who is on the steering committee for the renovation.
The Chehalis Foundation and the Chehalis School District are partnering on the renovation.
“Baseball is not just a sport. It has the ability to teach kids some of the most important skills in life in a way that no other sport or class can. I look at this future field as a classroom or workshop to help raise the next generation of leaders in our community,” said another member of the steering committee, I-5 Auto Group Vice President Robert Pehl.
During the initial plans for this facility, the following benefits were factors in the decision to move forward, according to the news release:
• Enhancing the area appeal as a sports, tourist and entertainment destination
• Providing a first-class multi-purpose venue for area residents and out-of-town attendees
• Increasing the overall quality of life and livability of the area
• Capitalizing on existing and planned tourism efforts
• Fostering relationships with area educational institutions
• Providing venues for the expansion of existing educational/sports programs and the development of new programs in local schools
• Generating additional economic activity in terms of spending, jobs and earnings
Pledges and donations to the facility are currently at $1.3 million with a preliminary estimated project cost of $2 million, according to the news release.
The Chehalis Foundation and Chehalis School District have entered into a partnership to renovate the boy’s baseball field at W.F. West High School.
The official fundraising campaign kicks off this month.
For more information about the project, contact Jenny Collins at 360-508-6572 or jennylyncollins@gmail.com.
