10/23/08

Volunteers spruce up Asbery Field

by Beckye Randall

More than 200 workers rolled up their sleeves to tackle a major improvement project at Marysville’s Asbery Field on Saturday, October 11. Church members, city staffers and school district employees all donated time and materials to update the local park and enhance its usefulness. Even the weather cooperated, with clear skies and mild temperatures on tap for the community event.

Volunteers planted nearly 40 trees, removed an outdated batting cage, tore down old wooden bleachers and replaced them with sturdy metal seating, planted grass seed on the football field, renovated the baseball diamond, and refurbished several walking paths.

Before the Saturday event, the city’s Parks department dug holes for trees, removed old chain-link fencing and built retaining barriers where needed. The city of Marysville paid for new fencing and landscaping materials. A $3,000 grant from HomeStreet Bank provided a new sign and landscaping at the field’s entry.

Chrissie Clementson, a member of Allen Creek Community Church, joined Turning Point Church member Judi Johnston in pulling weeds and cleaning debris off the baseball field. The playing field was redesigned to accommodate Little League games, with shorter base paths and a revamped pitcher’s mound. Volunteers moved dirt with wheelbarrows, shovels and even a backhoe or two.

John Bingham, the school district’s capital projects director, pitched in to plant trees and resurface new and existing walking paths. “It’s exciting to see such a good turnout,” he commented.

Bingham was enthusiastic about incorporating materials from other local projects into the Asbery Field makeover. “We’ve been able to reuse boulders that were removed from the Getchell High School site for the field’s buffer walls,” he explained.

Volunteers from more than a half-dozen local churches participated in the event in conjunction with city staffers, parks department employees and school district staff.

Captions: (Top) Chrissie Clementson and Judi Johnston remove old roots and debris from the baseball field surface during the October 11 community service event.

Turning Point Community Church members Stephanie and David Rech and Bill Holm to help redesign the Asbery Field baseball diamond at the October 11 community event.

 

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