A proposal from the Claremont Youth Baseball and Softball Association to modify one of the fields at Monadnock Park was given the nod to move forward by the Claremont City Council at its meeting on Wednesday.
A motion made by councilor Christopher Irish to “accept the donation as presented and allow the project to go forward between the Parks and Rec Department and CYBSA” was seconded by Assistant Mayor Debora Matteau and was supported by a vote of 9-0.
The project, which is being funded through a $5,000 grant from the Byrne Foundation, donations and organizational funds rather than taxpayer money, would most prominently alter Field No. 2 by the concession stand, which is a 40-60 field, to allow it to be used as a 50-70 field for older athletes.
It should be noted that even with the planned expansion of the field, it is still capable of being used as a 40-60 field.
Wednesday’s decision came after CYBSA president Valerie D’Aloia spoke during the citizens’ forum at a City Council meeting in June requesting the proposal be added to an agenda for consideration after an attempt to move the project forward in September was unsuccessful.
Initially, part of the reason for the push for this project was out of fear that the CYBSA would lose its charter status with Babe Ruth/Cal Ripken if it did not fulfill a supposed requirement to have at least one 50-70 field by the 2027 season.
D’Aloia expressed those fears at the meeting in June and said that losing that charter “would require a complete restructuring of the organization and create significant challenges for the program.”
However, on Wednesday, D’Aloia notified the City Council that she had received clarity from New Hampshire Cal Ripken leadership and said: “Our league would not lose its charter if we do not convert.”
Despite that, CYBSA’s president emphasized the other reasons why this proposal would be beneficial, such as the ability to host state and district tournaments “under normal circumstances” and easing the transition for athletes to higher levels of baseball, among others.
In a statement regarding the council’s decision provided via text message, D’Aloia wrote: “Super excited to make this happen for the kids, and I do thank the City Council for their help with moving this forward.”
