LCRA, City of Goldthwaite award $20,000 grant for baseball field improvements

Project will enhance safety, appearance of Goldthwaite ball field

Dec. 5, 2022

The Community Development Partnership Program grant will enable the Goldthwaite Athletic Booster Club to improve the safety and appearance of the baseball field in Goldthwaite, which is used daily during the spring and summer by Goldthwaite High School students and numerous Little League teams in Mills County. The club and the City of Goldthwaite supplied an additional $10,000 in matching funds for the project.

“Teams from all over Texas come to play our high school team, and our facilities do not compare to other districts,” said April Wetzig, president of the booster club.

“Some teams request not to play here because we have holes in the ground and the pitching mound is unsafe,” she said. “It should be 10 inches above home plate and it’s barely off the ground at all. These are safety issues and it’s what we’re working on. This grant is going to help us do it all at once.”

The booster club plans to resurface the field by scraping, leveling, adding dirt and reseeding it. New fencing and netting will be added to increase safety for players and spectators. A batting cage and bullpen near the field also will receive better lighting and fresh landscaping.

LCRA General Manager Phil Wilson said LCRA is proud to support community projects such as improvements to the Goldthwaite baseball field.

“Our top priority at LCRA is always safety, and we’re thrilled that our grant program is helping fund improvements to make the field in Goldthwaite a little safer for players,” Wilson said.

“Baseball is such a fun way to enjoy the outdoors and get some exercise, while at the same time learning about teamwork and competition,” he said. “Having a field in good condition promotes civic pride and community spirit, and we’re glad to play a part in this project.”

Wetzig says more kids would participate in organized baseball if they could take pride in the condition of their home field.

“It may sound silly, but when the field is something to be proud of, kids tend to perform better and want to come out to practice and get better,” she said.

Baseball season’s opening day is a communitywide event for Mills County’s nearly 5,000 residents. Wetzig says she hopes the new fencing will draw additional sponsorships to help maintain the field for years to come.

“Our community is proud of our kids, and this would bring out even more people for support,” Wetzig said.

The community grant is one of 46 grants awarded recently through LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program, which helps volunteer fire departments, local governments, emergency responders and nonprofit organizations fund capital improvement projects in LCRA’s wholesale electric, water and transmission service areas. The program is part of LCRA’s effort to give back to the communities it serves.

Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted in January. More information is available at lcra.org/cdpp.

About LCRA
The Lower Colorado River Authority serves customers and communities throughout Texas by managing the lower Colorado River; generating and transmitting electric power; providing a clean, reliable water supply; and offering outdoor adventures at more than 40 parks along the Colorado River from the Texas Hill Country to the Gulf Coast. LCRA and its employees are committed to fulfilling our mission to enhance the quality of life of the Texans we serve through water stewardship, energy and community service. LCRA was created by the Texas Legislature in 1934 and receives no state appropriations. For more information, visit lcra.org.

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