July’s heavy rains and flooding left in its wake clean up and repairs affecting several properties in Bellville. One of those places was the Clear Fork Youth League ball fields located on Hines Avenue.
The community and youth league supporters came together, teamed up and knocked the clean up out of the ball park. “We got a lot of help from the community,” said Ryan Wine, field supervisor. Wine stated that it was what the water brought with it, the debris that created most of the damage. With no flood gates the water brought forth a force and collection of debris that ultimately clogged the gates and pushed them over.
Several volunteers from the River of Life Church in Butler and within the community banded together in the initial clean up.
Wine stated, “ We have enough money for the repairs, thanks to the local sponsors, money from concession stand and the generosity of donations from the community,” he added, “ People really gave a lot.”
According to Randy Pore, Clear Fork Youth League vice president, approximately 50 percent of the fence was knocked down, the league may be able to reuse a portion of fence and some poles which will save an estimated 30 percent of the cost to replace what was damaged. The goal is to focus on preventative maintenance. “We are going to do a few things different,” said Pore. Pore said that once the rebuilding estimate was received, the estimate and the strategy to proceed would be discussed at a board meeting.
Part of restoring the ball fields to mint condition is to also add an extra batting cage and additional mounds. “Next year there will be an emphasis on practices and providing the opportunity to build on skills and having the space to do so,” Pore said. Pore is confident the improvements will help the teams in the coming year.
