Carol Johnson, Southern Indiana Business Report
LOOGOOTEE – A Loogootee sports organization has launched a crowdfunding campaign to build sidewalks at its baseball/softball complex.
LIONS Baseball and Softball is raising $50,000 to improve access by replacing gravel paths with concrete and/or asphalt. The campaign went live on the crowdfunding site Patronicity Dec. 1 and raised $10,000 in 10 days. The current total is $15,300. The deadline to donate is midnight Feb. 1.
If successful, the project will receive a matching grant as part of the Indiana Housing and Community Development’s CreatINg Places program.
Tyler Bratton, board member with LIONS Baseball and Softball, said the current walkways make it very difficult for individuals with limited mobility or those who use assist devices to visit the complex’s three fields.
Nearly 300 boys and girls participate in LIONS Baseball and Softball. Bratton said upgrading the complex will allow the organization to host more tournaments and serve more youth.
The new sidewalks are part of a larger improvement plan. New infield renovations and new lighting are included in the “The DIAMOND Project”, which stands for a Designated Initiative to Achieve Milestones and Opportunities while Nurturing Dreams.
“We see these fields as a tool to bring people to our community by hosting tournaments. In spring, summer and fall, we bring large numbers of people to the community,” Bratton said. “Those people eat at our restaurants and visit our stores.”
In August, the organization hosted a tournament that drew 22 teams.
“When you have that many teams, with 12 kids on each team, you get into the hundreds pretty quickly,” he said.
Loogootee’s location also is an advantage for tournaments, easily attracting teams from Evansville and Terre Haute. Martin County already benefits from visitors to West Boggs Lake and the baseball/softball complex is another potential attraction.
“Securing a crowdfunding grant for the renovation of our baseball and softball fields is not just an investment in sports, but an investment in the future of our community,” said Jessica Potts, executive director of the Martin County Alliance for Economic Growth. “These fields will provide a safe, vibrant space for youth and families to gather, while also creating opportunities for local businesses to thrive as they benefit from increased tourism and event hosting. By improving our recreational infrastructure, we are fostering both the well-being of our residents and the economic vitality of the entire region.”
Bratton said the Patronicity campaign represents an exciting opportunity to upgrade the complex.
“Awesome facilities create awesome opportunities and those opportunities can benefit our entire community,” he said.
To support Access All with LIONS Baseball and Softball, click here.
CreatINg Places project success
Since the CreatINg Places program began in 2016, projects have raised more than $11.8 million in public funds and an additional $10.1 million in matching IHCDA funds. The program is available to projects located in Indiana communities. Non-profit entities (with 501c3 or 501c4 status) and local units of government are eligible to apply. Eligible projects must have a minimum total development cost of $10,000, where the recipient will receive $5,000 in IHCDA matching funds should it successfully raise $5,000 through Patronicity. IHCDA will provide matching grant funds up to $50,000 per project.