Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
City comes together to clean up stadium
CALN >> Many helping hands makes for less work.
The Coatesville community came together on Saturday for a clean-up day at Scott Field Stadium as part of a renovation project. The efforts began by Coach and Vice President of Coatesville Kid Raiders Steve Kirk and his wife Shannon Kirk. Scott Field has fallen into disrepair, they said, and needs renovations. He received approval from the Coatesville Area School District school board members to proceed with the Scott Field Project.
The community cleanup day was the first step to get the field and stadium ready for heavier repairs. Coatesville Area School District administrators and students assisted with the project. The bleachers and press box need to be repaired and rebuilt, and there is electrical work, painting, landscaping and concrete repairs to be done too, according to project representatives.
“The Coatesville Area School District is appreciative of community members who are willing to serve, and we are especially grateful for the leadership of Steve and Shannon and their team, who saw a need, and took the time to bring people together to make a positive change for our children and our community,” Assistant to the Superintendent for Curriculum and Learning Kim Donahue said.
The project at Eleventh Avenue consists of re-
pairing and replacing the bleachers; rebuilding the boarded up press box; completing all needed electrical work; and removing unsafe debris from the property. They hope to have that completed by August.
Shannon Kirk noted that despite the rainy day, there were more than 100 people working long hours together to revitalize a place for the students to call home.
“It was amazing seeing our project come alive on Saturday,” Shannon Kirk said. “Our community came together to turn our dreams into reality. The positive energy radiated throughout the field.”
Those volunteers came with a history of memories.
“I heard many stories from people of their fond memories at Scott field,” Shannon Kirk said. “There were volunteers who had played on that field, who had coached on that field, and volunteers who had never even been to that field before, all who left that day feeling even more passionate about the Scott field project, than when they arrived.”
Representatives said several local contractors and businesses, including GP Martini Roofing, SWI, McEwen Masonry, AJB, B &K Electric, Structural Design Associates, volunteered their time and supplies to help revitalize the stadium.
Scott Field Project representatives said they need funds to purchase the necessary materials for to complete all of the proposed improvements, to provide water and food for laborers on work days, as well as to fund the purchase of a customized football helmet tunnel for Coatesville Kid Raiders to use at the stadium. More information and a contribution fund can be found at https:// www.gofundme.com/ Scott Field Project.