Tampa Bay Rays officials as well as pitcher Scott Kazmir were on hand at South Brandon’s Clayton Park Little League field last month to announce the Rays’ intention of helping to renovate it.
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Through the Ray’s Foundation of Hope Field Renovation program, the South Brandon Little League will receive a grant not in a form of cash but through working with landscapers and contractors to overhaul individual fields. Under this arrangement, the Rays Baseball Foundation determines a field’s individual needs on a case by case basis.
This help will allow for South Brandon to start a much needed face lift, which will include replacing the infield, install warning track, install new windscreen on outfield fence, replace backstop, install four new roofs on stands, and install drainage around four dugouts.
Clayton Park, located at 600 S. Parsons Ave., was one of two fields chosen by the Rays to receive help this year. St. Petersburg’s Azalea Little League field also received some help to renovate as well.
South Brandon’s interim president Ken Rulli was very pleased with and thankful for the Ray’s help, but admitted that it is only the beginning of all the work needed to be done.
“For the Rays to come in and help us out is a great start for improving our fields and to be proud of our park,” Rulli said.
Rays community relations director Suzanne Murchland told reporters that the foundation was impressed by the support South Brandon receives from the community. “We knew we had a committed group of volunteers who would work to maintain what we did so it could benefit the children for many years,” Murchland said.
The field renovation program is just one of three grant programs the Rays organization provides. They also provide a Community Fund as well as an All-Star Grant program.
The All-Star grant provides substantial monetary ($50,000 – $100,000) support to regional programs serving the needs of young athletes.
For more information on any of the grant programs, please contact the Rays’ Community Relations department at 727-825-3135 or e-mail community@raysbaseball.com.
For updates and information about the South Brandon Little League, please visit www.eteamz.com.
