Carter Culletto, a local Life Scout in Chehalis Scout Troop 373, is attempting to renovate the Millett Field basketball court for his Eagle Scout project.
Donations of supplies are requested.
“Millett Field used to be a great, free place for local kids to play. But over the years, it has fallen into terrible disrepair. The court is cracked, the baskets are broken and weeds have grown out of control,” Culletto said. “What was intended to be a safe outdoor space for neighborhood kids, has deteriorated to the point of being unsafe and unusable. Studies show that access to safe outdoor play areas increases children’s physical activity, social connection and overall wellbeing. This is why I want to make Millett Field a safe and enjoyable place for local kids to play once again.”
Donations of the following items are requested to fix Millett Field:
• Concrete sealant
• Court paint
• Basketball hoop and pole paint
• One basketball hoop, backboard and net
• Two basketball nets
• Two benches
• Two solar lighting poles
• Concrete for lighting pole installation
• Power Washer
• Monetary donations
Monetary donations can be sent via PayPal to “BSA Troop 373,” with note “Millett Field,” or contact 360-602-1220 to coordinate pickup of checks or donated supplies.
Millett Field is the oldest, continuously used public park in Chehalis, and was regularly used as the central hub of Chehalis sporting activity for decades, including hosting games for several Negro League teams in the 1920s, according to it’s Wikipedia page.
The City of Chehalis provides this history of the field on its website: “In 1898, the Millett family gave to the city 3.3 acres of land at Chehalis Avenue and Third Street for park purposes. This was developed into a baseball field and was home of the Chehalis semi-pro team from 1906 to 1949. It was then home for a Babe Ruth program from 1950 to 1972. It was subsequently used as a main softball slowpitch field for a brief period. The grandstands were removed in 1979 as they were rotting and becoming a public hazard.”
