Hey everybody,

I am just a dad who played baseball like so many of you back in the day and now coach to share my love for baseball. In my youth I was fortunate to have lived just a couple blocks from Rose Park. The game of baseball taught me so many things like hard work, dedication, how to be a good teammate, how to handle loss, how to be gracious and humble in victory knowing that things could have turned out differently had it not been for a few good bounces. Getting to visit the concession stand at Rose Park was one of the highlights of my summer; taffy sticks, Pop Rocks and Atomic Fire Balls were a couple of my favorites. Well, the candy may be different but a visit to the concession stand along with a great game of baseball will continue to leave an indelible mark in the memory of future generations of baseball fans.

With four beautiful fields at the new Bitterroot Baseball/Softball complex, there will be lots of baseball and softball played there, but we desperately need a concession stand. Please join me to help raise the funds to build a concession stand!!!

Little League Baseball/Softball is as American as apple pie and the Fourth of July. Almost every American has been positively effected by the game of baseball whether its from personal involvement in Little League Baseball or watching the World Series on television or going to a Mustang game on a warm summer evening. Let's keep the tradition alive for the future generation by investing in the youth.

 PROJECT

Heights National Little League has been a part of baseball history in Billings for over 50 years. HNLL has been fortunate to be one of the largest and strongest leagues in the state. Participation by hundreds of committed volunteer moms, dads and kids had built 10 beautiful fields around the Heights community. Five of these fields were located on School District 2 land at Bitterroot Elementary School on Bench Blvd. and Barrett Road.

When the Medicine Crow Middle School began construction in the summer of 2014 the fields at Bitterroot School were demolished. The School District had hoped to complete the construction of 4 fields relocated on the property by the start of the 2015 baseball season but the construction timeline proved to be too tight in order to accomplish that goal. Consequently the HNLL was left without 5 fields to accommodate over 500 youth signed up to participate in the 2015 baseball season.

Much of the maintenance reserve fund was depleted in an effort to restore some very marginal fields located in and around the Heights so that the boys and girls had fields on which to play ball. Unfortunately these reserves, some of which had been slated to fund the construction of a concession stand and storage facility located at the Bitterroot Fields, had to be used for that higher priority purpose. Currently there is not a concession stand or storage building at the new fields. With your help we will change that.

Needs Assessment:

The fields at Bitterroot are now complete and are arguably some of the finest fields in Billings.   The dugouts are absolutely beautifully constructed with split black CMU.  One glaring missing component is a concession stand. The school district has requested that any building that would be constructed on the property maintain the same level of workmanship and design that went into the fields and dugouts. HNLL could not agree more that the concession stand should be congruous with the work that has already been completed. HNLL currently rents three storage units in which to store equipment during the off-season. The building design would alleviate the need for those storage units. Included in the building design are several needed components:

• Concession area
• Storage area that would allow the league to eliminate the rented space
• Maintenance Equipment storage
• Umpire changing room

Concession revenue is one of the primary ways that the league is able to provide income for maintenance of the league’s fields. Having a well-designed building in a central location at the Bitterroot fields would increase accessibility, visibility and generate the needed income to support on going maintenance of the outstanding fields now in place.

Benefits to our Community:

Youth today are faced with issues regarding obesity that previous generations cannot imagine. Gone are the days of a pick up game of basketball or home run derby. As much as we would like to change that we must engage the youth in positive and creative ways. The reality of the situation is that we need to provide welcoming and fun programs that engage children in active lifestyles to compete with the sedentary media games and technology that engage our children’s time.  Baseball is an activity that most children enjoy and can participate in at whatever their level of athleticism. Baseball continues to be a strong sport that engages kids in physical The combination of teamwork and individual performance sets baseball apart from many other activities while challenging youth both at a physically and mentally.

Financial Components:

Currently the HNLL has $10,000 of cash available to go toward the construction of the concession/storage building. The league will conduct fundraising efforts of cash and in-kind contributions to complete the project.

Uses:

Construction of Building                  $75,000

Design/Architect and soft costs       $15,000

Total                                                               $90,000

Sources:

Donated In-kind Labor/Services            $30,000

HNLL Reserve                                       $10,000

Fundraising donations Private asks       $15,000

Fundrazr campaign                                $10,000

Bank Loan                                              $25,000

Total                                                               $90,000

Conclusion:

Heights National Little League is a well established and efficiently run organization that has served 1000s of youth in our community for many years. The dedication and perseverance of many of the volunteers is notable and admirable. The League is poised to serve 1000s of more youth in the next 50 years and the construction of a concession/storage building will help families enjoy their experience at the fields as well as assist the League in preserving the integrity of the fields as well as steward the resources of the League in an effective manner. Make a contribution today and let's hit this project out of the Park!!!