Mount Tabor Ball Field Gets A Makeover Thanks To Parsippany Girl Scouts

PARSIPPANY, NJ — Local Girl Scout Troop 95091 overhauled the Mount Tabor School baseball field this summer, earning their Bronze Award and leaving a playing field for years of students to enjoy.

The troop first proposed the idea in December 2016 when they were fifth graders at the school, after noticing the field was in dire need of repairs.

"Grass had grown over the baselines and the girls felt that by improving the field it would add to the beauty of the school, enhance the experience of playing softball, baseball and kickball as well improve safety when running the bases," Lani Duffy, the troop leader, told Patch.

The girls presented their case first to the school principal, Marlene Toomey, and then to the Parsippany Board of Education. Not only did the Board approve the field, they also added it to the list of fields the Board regularly maintains, meaning the girl's project will live on for other students to enjoy.

Par-Troy West Little League donated the clay, and the Girl Scouts did the work: raking out clay, pulling weeds, and planting new grass. Parents helped with the process as well. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

"The project was often delayed due to the excessive rain we had in the spring, but the girls persevered knowing that it would not be done in time for them to enjoy the results of their efforts," Duffy said.

The field officially reopened this Sunday, as the girls placed the bases and tied a ribbon on the fence.

From left to right, Troop 95091 is: Hope Rosen, Varsha Sathiyan, Caroline Hutchinson, Jada Thompson, Sienna Dragone, Elizabeth Baxter, Jaynie Smith, Jessica Fox, Bridget Duffy, Kayla Plotts and two girls in front are Clarissa Paquiz and Avery Crain.

Images via Lani Duffy