Play Ball! State Grants Larchmont $250,000 to Develop Baseball Fields at Lorenzen Park

Assemblyman Steve Otis has secured a $250,000 state grant for the Village of Larchmont to develop additional baseball fields at Lorenzen Park, Fields for Kids (FFK) and the Village of Larchmont announced.

“We are now just $25,000 short of our goal to make a new home for Little League at Lorenzen,” said Fields for Kids president Jim Hanley in a prepared statement. “With donations from the community we can make this ‘Field of Dreams’ a reality.”

Fields for Kids organized a capital campaign for the Lorenzen project, which was part of an overall plan by FFK to improve and increase fields in Larchmont and Mamaroneck for all team sports.

“We started a fundraising campaign in 2008 and through money contributed by donors, the Larchmont-Mamaroneck Little League, the Village of Larchmont and now this grant, we now need only $25,000 in donations to reach our $1.7 million goal,” said Hanley. “We plan to start work this summer so time is of the essence. Donors who contribute by May 15 will have their names inscribed on a plaque at Lorenzen. To make a donation or request additional information please contact fieldsforkidsmamk.org.”

Added Village of Larchmont Mayor Anne McAndrew, “Our parks and fields are an essential part of life in Larchmont. They provide a place for recreation, exercise and perhaps, most importantly, for the community to come together. We are so grateful to Steve for securing the funds to help expand and improve this much needed resource.”

Otis said he has been happy to work with FFK for the past three-plus years on the project to make it a reality. “This state grant and the private fundraising efforts will mean more kids will have access to good quality fields delivering more games, more hits and more fun.”

LMLL president Bill Nachtigal added, “Our league is one of the largest in the country and we simply have not had enough playing fields. We have over 1,600 players ranging in age from 4-18 and have been sorely pressed for space. This grant will help us complete our vision of having a field complex that we can call the home of LMLL.”

Photo: Assemblyman Steve Otis presents a check for $250,000 to the Village of Larchmont Mayor Anne McAndrews, Larchmont-Mamaroneck Little League president, Bill Nachtigal, and Fields for Kids president, Jim Hanley. The monies will be used to help construct a home for the local Little League with two additional natural-grass baseball fields, renovation of the existing field, new team benches, fences, scoreboards and spectator seating. Photo credit: Suzanne Despins

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