The Chelsea Recreation Council was recently awarded a grant of $12,000 from the Chelsea Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, to support the "Chelsea: For the Love of Baseball" project, a renovation project for existing baseball and softball fields in Chelsea. The grant helped complete a challenge grant from the Detroit Tigers Foundation to the Chelsea Recreation Council.
“The Detroit Tigers Foundation awarded the Chelsea Recreation Council a $12,000 grant as a challenge to the Council to raise an additional $12,000 in matching funds. This was a great opportunity for the Chelsea Community Foundation to leverage and complete a challenge grant that will have such an impact in the community of Chelsea,” said Jordan Field, director of the Detroit Tigers Foundation.
The "Chelsea: For the Love of Baseball" project has been designed in phases, with the top priority being the fields at Chelsea High School. While other fields are in need of maintenance due to excessive use, the high school fields have been deemed unplayable. In 2006, the Chelsea Community Foundation provided support for the renovation of the fields at Beach Middle School, and those fields are beginning to show wear.
“The Chelsea Recreation Council is very excited to receive the grant from the Chelsea Community Foundation. Our baseball/softball program has grown to nearly 600 kids. With these grant funds, we will be able to renovate the Chelsea High School field and provide the space needed to accommodate more teams. This project also will provide more opportunity for practices and games. It is an incredible gift to the community," said Michelle Mitchell, recreation director for the Chelsea Recreation Council.
