Vets Field Support Letter
Lance Lashway
183 Overlook Drive
Florence, MA 01062
Sarah LaValley, Community Preservation Planner
Northampton, MA 01060
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Dear Community Preservation Committee Planner and Members,
My name is Lance Lashway, I am 50 years old. I have lived here all my life.
I apologize that I cannot attend the CPA meeting this evening due to a previous commitment.
I am writing to ask you to please approve funding for the renovation of Veteran’s baseball field.
There is a tremendous need for this 90 foot baseball diamond to be rebuilt and returned to the residents of Northampton. We do
not have enough 90’ baseball diamonds in Northampton. The lack of enough 90’ baseball diamond field availability has been a
problem for many years. Even with the promised addition of a 90’ diamond at the Florence Fields, we will still desperately
need Veteran’s Field.
I have been coaching baseball in Northampton, for 15 years, mostly on the 90’ diamonds. We have 3 of these 90’ diamonds,
currently. The availability of two of these three diamonds, at JFK & NHS is limited. The availability of the third diamond,
Arcanum, is SEVERELY limited, due to a major problem with the neighbors. Arcanum is only available to the Legion team and
the Smith Vocational teams, and on occasion to the Junior League teams. Many days the Arcanum field is empty and off-limits
when many other baseball teams are desperately looking for space to play or practice.
I am the president of the Mike Laga Youth Baseball Association, which has 3-4 teams each Spring/Summer season, including
Sandy Koufax, Mickey Mantle-A, Mickey Mantle-B, and Connie Mack teams. Also during this season in Northampton, we
have three NHS baseball teams, two Smith Voc. Teams, the Full Count baseball team, at least 4 Junior League teams, and the
Legion team. All of these teams compete for practice and playing time on these fields.
In the Fall, 90’ diamond use is even more limited, due to conflicts with other Fall sports which share the same field space.
These other fall sports include, but are not limited to Soccer, Field Hockey, Football, and Softball. For example, at Arcanum, no
baseball teams can use the 90’ diamond at all because the field turns into a full size soccer field with goals that are in the
outfield.
Fall baseball is a rapidly growing activity. In the Fall we have two high school-age baseball teams, and 3-4 younger teams
competing for field time. These teams all have to share very limited Game-time, and almost ZERO Practice-time, on the 90’
diamond at JFK or NHS as determined by what limited open slots the Recreation Department can find.
We desperately need the return of Veteran’s field. When we lost Veteran’s field five or six years ago, it was, and continues to be
a great loss to the residents of Northampton. Every year we have been hopeful that it would be rebuilt.
It is very important that the young residents of Northampton have the opportunity to practice and play sports as an important
part of their physical and social development and well-being.
Please approve funding for Veteran’s Field. Please give us back the field we lost five years ago.
Thank you,
Lance Lashway
183 Overlook Drive, Florence, MA 01062