A $10,000 fundraising campaign has kicked off to cover the cost of planting additional trees around the Access Field ball diamond in Altona.
Project spokesperson Ken Wiebe says they're calling it, One Hundred Trees For Access.
"We're hoping to be able to plant some trees down the foul lines for shade for our fans. In addition to that, we'd also like to plant another row of trees on the east side, the north side, and the west side, alternating between the evergreens we have there to have a second row, which would provide more definition for the park as well as provide some wind shelter for us down the road."
The goal is to landscape Access Field to look much like the Centennial Park located across the street, explains Wiebe, with the hope of adding a trail in the future that would allow walkers to enjoy both settings.
In addition to the trees, plans also include community recognition of local baseball pioneers in the form of plaques, placed along the first base side of the diamond.
The idea was born late last year with the passing of long-time volunteer Wilbert Funk.
"Wilbert had been an umpire for us for, I don't know - thirty, forty, fifty years. It seemed like forever! Then, we started thinking about even earlier than that," said Wiebe. "What about Menno [Friesen], he was a great volunteer and helped us out a lot. Even earlier, Gerry Rempel started up the Little League program in Altona. And John Kehler helped build diamond number one in the [Centennial] Park, and started a Bantam and Midget program."
Wiebe says they initially wanted to recognize the first Altona minor baseball committee from 1981.
"That included Mel Klassen, Bill Driedger, Pete Schroeder and Ken Penner. We were hoping to do those this year. And the rest of us - we don't want to be recognized yet."
Wiebe says it's a privilege to be part of and promote the volunteer aspect of a great baseball program.
The total estimated cost of the tree campaign is $10,000.
"If we do the math, we need a hundred donors at a hundred dollars each and we'd be able to plant all our trees this year."
Cheques should be made payable to the Town of Altona and marked "Access Field Tree Project."
Tax-deductible receipts will be issued.