batting cage and sidewalk needed to enhance Elmsford Little League experience

Sidewalk and battlng cage needed to enhance Elmsford Little League experience
Every year when I attend the Elmsford Little League opening ceremonies I get very inspired. The League has had many years of successful seasons and has produced talented young players over the years. 700 children from ages of 4 to 12 play each year.

The League has a tradition of inviting inspiring former or current Major League players to attend their ceremonies. This year Cecil Fielder was one of the grand marshals. With the Yankees, he won the 1996 World Series over the Atlanta Braves. In 1990, he became the first player to reach the 50–home run mark since George Foster hit 52 for the Cincinnati Reds in 1977 and the first American League player to do so since Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris famously hit 54 and 61 in 1961.

This years opening day ceremony almost didn’t happen. A 66” sewer pipe broke in early April. The Little League leadership partnered with town officials from the Public Works & Parks department, Westchester County and Morano brothers to repair the pipe. The park looked great today!!! A big thank you to those who made the repairs possible.

The town has been working with Little League officials to install lights at the park so Little League team members could play more games. The lights should be installed by mid-May!

GOING FORWARD---TWO SUGGESTIONS TO ENHANCE THE LITTLE LEAGUE EXPERIENCE
I spent some time chatting with Little League team members and their parents today. And will work hard to implement two important suggestions.

1) There is a need for the town to construct a NEW SIDEWALK from Parkview Place to the Teamsters union hall so children and their parents can walk safely to and from W Rumbrook Park. With evening lights being installed – more pedestrians will be walking to the park in the evening –highlighting the need for a sidewalk.

2) The town should partner with the League to build an enclosed batting cage that would enable the League to organize training year round. This could save families and the Little League significant dollars –about $50,000 a year. Batting cages are one of the most effective development tools in youth baseball because they let kids get many more quality swings in a short, controlled environment. Young hitters improve through repetition.

We worked hard to get the lights approved. I believe that both above initiatives will be an enormous enhancement for the Little League team and am committed to working with League officials to implement these goals.
PAUL FEINER
Greenburgh Town Supervisor