Gumbert Park Fields Officially Open for Play

Saturday’s Little League opening day parade carried extra significance this year as it also included a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the completion of the renovations of the baseball fields at . The crowd on hand was treated to plenty of activities along with food and drink options.

The day’s events were concluded with the 12:30 p.m. ribbon cutting ceremony just prior to the season’s first game played on field one. The opening-day matchup featured the Twins (sponsored by Colicchio Construction) and the Cubs (sponsored by Publik House). On hand to cut the ribbon was Mayor Andy Skibitsky who called the facilities “gorgeous.”

In attendance along with Skibitsky was league president Dan Duffy and members of the Westfield Recreation Department including director Bruce Kaufmann, chairman Jim Marvin, commissioners Pete Echausse, Todd Ripperger, Jeff O’Connor and assistant director Dee Mackay-Kaufmann.

Skibitsky’s ceremonial cutting of the ribbon marked the end of a journey that began with Duffy’s vision way back in the winter. The town was able to break ground in February despite a wet winter when construction was not always easy.

“We were hoping for a frozen winter and it being wet made it tough,” said Kaufmann. “There was a lot of marsh out there (the outfield) and it was very ‘swampy.’”

Kauffmann and Skibitsky each threw out the game’s opening pitch to a player from each of the game’s squads.

The revamped fields are impressive, highlighted by the changes made at Gumbert 1. The new facility features a brand new “blue monster” wall in left field. The 16-foot fence provides protection for the adjacent park and neighborhood in addition to staring down the league’s right-handed batters.

Also new are the shaded dugouts complete with new benches, a new set of batter's boxes and a newly-built pitcher's mound. The whole project, a joint effort between the town and Westfield Baseball, cost around $100,000.

“This field is a phenomenal example of a public and private organization working together,” said Skibitsky, referring to the great working relationship between the town and Westfield Baseball.

Not only are the new fields improved aesthetically, they also will be much more functional and durable throughout the rigors of a long season. New construction of the batter's boxes and the pitcher's mounds should enable them to withstand the rough weather of numerous off-seasons. 

“They (the Gumbert fields) have improved both in looks and in playability,” said Kaufmann. 

Duffy was instrumental as a driving force in providing Westfield’s Little Leaguers with a top-notch complex.

“I’ve known Dan for many years and he has put a lot of time into Westfield Baseball,” said Skibitsky. “He came up with a dream and helped drive the outcome that we have on this beautiful day."

Kaufmann had similar things to say about the league’s president and his role in the process.

“Dan took the bull by the horns,” said Kaufmann. “He worked as an intermediary between the baseball league and the recreation commission.”

The result of Duffy and the commission’s hard work is a complex that is on par with any in the area.

“This was a case of taking an existing field and upgrading it to a showcase field.”