Fairfax New Athletic Fields Are Mulched

FAIRFAX NEW ATHLETIC FIELDS ARE MULCHED
BY SOME HARD WORKING VOLUNTEERS

By Carol Lizotte

Fun and comradery was had by all those involved in this result-producing "Saturday in the Park". Commandeered by volunteer construction manager, Myles Cahoon, close to 80 volunteers came out to help. The Fairfax Patriots Youth Football 70 members, directed by Karen McNall, came in the morning to pick stones out of this 5.5 acre newly graded field. Thank you Milton Rental for donating the use of a bale chopper for the weekend. Also a great thank you to Peter & Karen Fitzgerald who donated over 300 bales of hay and the use of their hay wagons and tractor - their donation helped make this Park Work Day possible and successful. Also thank you to Bob & Sharon Horr for coming up with that last dozen of hay bales needed. With the aide of volunteers Doug Stewart, Brenda Paradee, David Stanley, Jackie Bruning, Phylicia Cicilio, Matt Gregoire, Chris Miner and Dan Manach who continued through the afternoon to mulch hay over these newly seeded three athletic fields, THE ATHLETIC FIELDS ARE DONE.

This Fairfax Community Park Project Phase II is composed of one large multi-use athletic field that has the capacity to handle three ball games at one time. Despite several setbacks and the lack of anticipated construction assistance, the Park's athletic fields are done! Clearing brush at one end and along the perimeter of the fields will be done by Ben & Jerry's community service volunteers in October which will finalize the construction work for this summer. Next summer should see the completion of the Fairfax Community Park with the installation of a restroom facility, basketball court and the long awaited Fairfax Recreation Path along the Lamoille River.

Although this year's construction work has been pretty much completed, behind the scenes work will continue as the Fairfax Recreation Steering Committee and Recreation Director will continue to finalize restroom permitting with the Select Board, getting the recreation/access path construction out to bid according to the strict guidelines of the Vermont Agency of Transportation Enhancement grant funding, and most importantly seeking out financial donations to cover this year's construction costs. For anyone interested in making a donation you may contact Carol Lizotte (827-9723 or cal100@educert.com) or mail your donation directly to the Fairfax Town Office, P.O. Box 27, Fairfax VT 05454 payable to the Fairfax Recreation Department.

On behalf of the Fairfax Recreation Steering Committee, the Fairfax Select Board and Fairfax School Board, we thank all the volunteers who helped this Saturday August 20th and to all those who have throughout the past six years and even those who facilitated this project back in the 1990's. These athletic fields and the future recreation path are your legacy, where young and old will enjoy and benefit from this recreation area for many years.

The 5.5 acres of field is completed with a curtain drain, a layer of sand for drainage, with topsoil graded with a retaining wall installed, has been finely graded, seeded and mulched. This Fairfax Community Park Phase II is large enough for three ball games being run concurrently.

David Stanley works the bale chopper, generously donated by Milton Rental and hay, hay wagon and tractor generously donated by the Peter & Karen Fitzgerald family.

Volunteers Jackie Bruning, Brenda Paradee, Dave Stanley, Phylicia Cicilio, Doug Stewart, Myles Cahoon and Carol Lizotte work through Saturday afternoon August 20th finishing the mulching of the fields.

Respected community members, active volunteers and wonderful good neighbors to the Fairfax Community Park, Peg & Doug Stewart have participated at all Park Work Days for the past six years.

Volunteer extraordinaire, Myles Cahoon directs the work and volunteers throughout this day as he has all summer long.