Volunteers working to ‘bring Buford Park back to life’
Lead Summary
By
Elishia Krauss-
On March 3, over 35 volunteers commenced a Clean-Up Day at the Buford Community Park. Volunteers included a citizens group, Lynchburg-Clay youth softball players and their parents and several members of the Highland County Habitat for Humanity through their Brush with Kindness Program.
The park has been neglected for approximately 20 years and was in desperate need of repairs and beautification. In an effort to salvage the Buford ball field and a small portion of school history, the softball teams, Habitat for Humanity and a group of citizens teamed up to bring the Buford Park back to life. The goal is for the Lynchburg-Clay youth softball teams (5u-14u) to play regular-season and tournament games at the park.
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The Buford School has a long history dating back to the early 1900s when it was a special school district. In 1926, a charter for a first grade high school was obtained. Forty years later, in 1966, Buford (Clay Township) and Lynchburg consolidated to form Lynchburg-Clay. The school remained functional for several decades, closing when Buford students were merged with the Lynchburg schools.
Over the years, schoolchildren played softball and baseball games on the ball fields, not to mention the swings, teeter-totters, merry-go-round, basketball court and long slide that provided a safe haven for school kids during recess and after-school activities.
Through a GoFundMe page, the citizens group raised $650 to assist with the rebuilding the dugouts. In addition to these financial contributions and nearly 40 amazing volunteers donating time to date, the following businesses have been instrumental with assisting with electrical materials, lumber for the dugouts, cleanup day materials, paint and painting supplies and mulch:
• Bob R Properties;
• Highland County Habitat for Humanity;
• Higgins;
• Lowe’s;
• R+L Carriers;
• Sherwin Williams; and
• Wells Group.
The following weekend, construction on the dugouts was lead by Mike Massey and completed. In the coming weeks (dates TBA based on weather), volunteers will be painting the bleachers and concession stand.
Although significant progress has been made, the park still needs new basketball poles/boards, swings, a slide for the existing jungle gym (the current one is damaged) and trees and bushes for landscaping. The citizens group is looking to the community for help by volunteering time or money toward the remaining projects.
If you would like to make a monetary donation to this project, please visit the GoFundMe page at gofundme.com/buford-baseball-field-dugouts-fund. To volunteer, contact the coordinator, Traci Massey, at 937-205-5059.
The park has been neglected for approximately 20 years and was in desperate need of repairs and beautification. In an effort to salvage the Buford ball field and a small portion of school history, the softball teams, Habitat for Humanity and a group of citizens teamed up to bring the Buford Park back to life. The goal is for the Lynchburg-Clay youth softball teams (5u-14u) to play regular-season and tournament games at the park.
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The Buford School has a long history dating back to the early 1900s when it was a special school district. In 1926, a charter for a first grade high school was obtained. Forty years later, in 1966, Buford (Clay Township) and Lynchburg consolidated to form Lynchburg-Clay. The school remained functional for several decades, closing when Buford students were merged with the Lynchburg schools.
Over the years, schoolchildren played softball and baseball games on the ball fields, not to mention the swings, teeter-totters, merry-go-round, basketball court and long slide that provided a safe haven for school kids during recess and after-school activities.
Through a GoFundMe page, the citizens group raised $650 to assist with the rebuilding the dugouts. In addition to these financial contributions and nearly 40 amazing volunteers donating time to date, the following businesses have been instrumental with assisting with electrical materials, lumber for the dugouts, cleanup day materials, paint and painting supplies and mulch:
• Bob R Properties;
• Highland County Habitat for Humanity;
• Higgins;
• Lowe’s;
• R+L Carriers;
• Sherwin Williams; and
• Wells Group.
The following weekend, construction on the dugouts was lead by Mike Massey and completed. In the coming weeks (dates TBA based on weather), volunteers will be painting the bleachers and concession stand.
Although significant progress has been made, the park still needs new basketball poles/boards, swings, a slide for the existing jungle gym (the current one is damaged) and trees and bushes for landscaping. The citizens group is looking to the community for help by volunteering time or money toward the remaining projects.
If you would like to make a monetary donation to this project, please visit the GoFundMe page at gofundme.com/buford-baseball-field-dugouts-fund. To volunteer, contact the coordinator, Traci Massey, at 937-205-5059.