Chelsea Recreation: For the Love of Baseball and Softball
Chelsea Recreation strives to fulfill the recreation needs in the community with emphasis placed on providing youths within the Chelsea School District quality opportunities to develop life long leisure skills. Our affordable youth sport programs provide a wholesome, fun filled learning atmosphere devoted to mastering physical and mental skills. The programs are not intended as a training ground for future stars, but as an age appropriate opportunity to develop and grow.
In 1971, the Village Council, now a City Council, under Ordinance 74, created the Chelsea Recreation Council. The Recreation Council is an independent entity, established to create recreational opportunities to individuals within the Chelsea School District
Through Ordinance 74, Chelsea Recreation Council has a working partnership with the City of Chelsea and Chelsea School District. Chelsea Recreation provides the programs for the community, Chelsea School district provides the space for which the programs may run, and the City of Chelsea provides some monetary support plus 2 softball fields. 4% of our budget comes from a combination of funds from the City of Chelsea, sponsorships, and United Way. Chelsea Recreation Council receives zero funding from the local or state government. 96% of all funds are through registration fees charged.
Chelsea Recreation Council is composed of 9 citizens within the Chelsea School District, 2 school district liasons, and 1 City Councilman liason. Chelsea Recreation employs two full time administrators and 1 part time book keeper. To date, Chelsea Recreation has facilitated recreation programs to over 4481 participants.
In no particular order, the three goals of Chelsea Recreation Council are inspired by the general purpose of providing all children of all ages and skill levels an opportunity to develop and grow. The three goals are as follows:
1. To provide a safe environment.
2. To provide quality programs.
3. To provide affordable recreation programs.
The grant project, “Chelsea: For the Love of Baseball and Softball”, has been developed to renovate existing baseball and softball fields. The basis of the project is to provide a safe environment for children to play baseball and softball.
Through City Ordinance 74, Chelsea Recreation Council is permitted to utilize the baseball and softball fields for the community baseball and softball programs. Through the years, due to realistic budgetary constraints these fields have been neglected. They are run down, over utilized, not safe, and in some cases, deemed unplayable.
Chelsea loves playing baseball and softball. In the Spring/Summer of 2003, our baseball/softball program served 491 players. Now the program serves over 573 players. This is a notable and gradual participation increase. The participation forecast for the upcoming season is inline with continual growth. And, we currently have 589 boys and girls playing summer ball.
As stated before, Chelsea Recreation Council is almost entirely funded by fees collected. Program fees are not offset by millages or bonds. Chelsea Recreation Council prides ourselves on the notion that we are self sufficient, we do not over extend ourselves, we responsibly manage funds, and we continue to offer quality programs at an affordable rate. Unfortunately, due to our budgetary constraints of making programs affordable for all, Chelsea Recreation Council has not been able to provide the school district with funds to help maintain the fields. Parallel, due to budgetary constraints of Michigan school districts, Chelsea School District has not been able to allocate sufficient funds towards adequately maintaining the fields. Thus, all the recreational baseball and softball fields have been uncared for and is now showing the effects of “just getting by.” We are not talking about building youth baseball and softball Taj Mahal, we are simply talking about giving the fields a facelift that will make them safe and playable.
Chelsea Recreation’s project, “Chelsea: For the Love of Baseball and Softball”, includes the following renovations:
Chelsea High School Field 1 and 2, new backstop, new netting for foul balls, new safety fences for players, benches for players, removable pitching rubbers, and infield compound and clay bricks.
Beach Fields 1 and 2 will receive removable pitching rubbers, and infield compound and clay bricks.
South Fields 1 and 2 will receive infield compound and clay bricks.
Chelsea Recreation Council recognizes that the grand total is $70,456 and in tough economic times, our project, “Chelsea: For the Love of Baseball and Softball”, may need to be divided by priorities and phases.
Chelsea Recreation Council recognizes that securing the seed money to give the fields a “facelift” is the first step in the process. The key component to this grant project is the Maintenance Plan. A Maintenance Plan has been developed to continuously contribute funds to the upkeep of the baseball and softball fields. The implementation of the Maintenance Plan will ensure that the initial renovations be perpetually preserved. The Maintenance Plan has been defined as follows:
1. A systematic field rotation will be applied for field improvements.
2. $5.00 of every baseball and softball registration will be allocated towards field improvements – roughly $2,500 - $3,000 per year.
3. Funds will be budgeted towards the next baseball and softball season.
4. Field improvements will be implemented prior to the beginning of the new season, early spring.
Chelsea Recreation Council is proud to have a strong partnership with the Chelsea School District. All improvements on the fields will be maintained under the direction of the Operations Department of the school district
“The Detroit Tigers organization, its owners, management, players and coaches are committed to providing a caring, enduring presence in our community and believe in the need to invest in our community's future.
The mission of the Detroit Tigers Foundation is to use the game of baseball to enhance the quality of life in our community with a focus on youth, education and recreation. The Detroit Tigers Foundation will aid in the development and funding of innovative programs, including field renovation projects,that reach our community with positive messages and promote the good citizenship embodied in the storied history of the Tigers.”
To date, the DETROIT TIGERS FOUNDATION has granted Chelsea Recreation a matching grant of $12,000. “A matching grant is a contingent grant awarded ONLY if Chelsea Recreation independently raises funds to support the specific grant project outlined in the grant application. The Foundation Board is pleased to offer a match at a ration of 1:1 up to $12,000 for every dollar independently raised on or before December 1, 2009
Although, Chelsea Recreation is in the process of applying for several grants from the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and Major League Baseball grant, Baseball Tomorrow Fund (MLB). Chelsea Recreation is calling on all youth tball, baseball, and softball players to pull together their efforts in contributing to raise funds for this project. Their first fund raising campaign will be an Outing to a DETROIT TIGERS Game. Look for details all around town.
Future updates of the project, “Chelsea:For the Love of Baseball” can be found right here.