Detroit PAL loses key supporter over its handling of Tiger Stadium situation

Lear Corporation withdraws annual $50,000 contribution to Police Athletic League, cites concerns over player safety and historic preservation.

As readers of this site know, Detroit City Council recently gave the green light to the Detroit Police Athletic League and its proposal for a new artificial-turf development on the site of historic Tiger Stadium.

While there's good reason to celebrate this new era and the fact that Detroit's schoolchildren will continue to use this historic site for baseball, football, and other sports, it's also a critical time to carefully consider the safety of Detroit's student-athletes.

With more and more high-school turf-related football deaths in the news (Chicago) (Seattle) (New York), it's imperative that we protect our student-athletes, as well as our history and our environment. 

Detroit PAL's mission is an honorable mission, and we should all support their efforts to enrich the lives of Detroit's student-athletes. But we should also hold their leadership accountable not only for the players' safety, but also for preserving the historic stadium site they stand to inherit.

"Our kids deserve this new facility," goes the old argument. But when that facility's artificial turf factors into a player's death, it puts high-school football and its shiny new athletic complexes in perspective.

The Tiger Stadium site hasn't hosted a football game since 1974. If it is to be used for football again, it's critical that we take precautions to avoid this kind of tragedy in Detroit. 

Despite a $3 million federal earmark from U.S. Senator Carl Levin that calls for the preservation of the site, Detroit PAL insists it is instead moving forward with its controversial plan to tear out the grass at old Tiger Stadium so that it can install artificial turf on the historic site.

This does not sit well with at least one prominent supporter of PAL. 

With an annual contribution of $50,000 to Detroit PAL's programs, the Lear Corporation has been a major benefactor of the nonprofit for years. But in light of PAL's controversial plan to redevelop the Tiger Stadium site with artificial turf, Lear's CEO is speaking out.

Matthew Simoncini says that Lear is withdrawing its financial support of PAL for its mishandling of this delicate issue.

"I believe the [PAL] plan is severely flawed [and] a terrible use of resources," Simoncini writes in a letter to Detroit City Council. "[It] does not preserve this site and provides [an] unsafe playing surface for the children," 

Matthew Simoncini

"I believe the [PAL] plan is severely flawed, is a terrible use of resources, does not preserve this site and provides [an] unsafe playing surface for the children." 

—Lear CEO Matthew Simoncini

Under Simoncini's leadership, Lear has worked extensively with the city's Parks and Recreation department in recent years, spending more than $5 million rehabbing Detroit parks. Simoncini, a celebrated former football coach on the city's east side, understands better than most the importance of player safety on the gridiron.

Whether Lear's funding decision will affect PAL's redevelopment plans for the Tiger Stadium site remains to be seen, but it's clear that its CEO means business.

"This site is absolutely vital to Detroit," Simoncini says. "We can do better."

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Scroll down for video of Detroit City Council's final meeting on the Tiger Stadium issue, including discussion of the Lear Corporation at 15:50.  

The Un-Greening of Detroit: Artificial turf, limited public access on deck for site of historic Tiger Stadium (Part 2 of 3)

LONG GONE? This 9-acre green space and quasi-public park on the site of Detroit's historic Tiger Stadium could soon be replaced with artificial turf. (Tony Leja) 

2015 was an eventful year in the debate over the future of Navin Field, site of Detroit's historic Tiger Stadium. In Part 1 of our three-part series, we explored the recent land transfer of Navin Field to the Detroit Economic Development Corporation.

With the Detroit Police Athletic League set to take over Navin Field later this year, the NFGC is thrilled to see children get the chance to continue playing baseball on this historic site. But the debate continues over the definition of "public access" and the controversial plan to tear out Navin Field's natural grass and replace it with artificial turf.

As we've noted here before, that is not exactly a popular move.

While some in the mainstream media are finally paying attention to this critical moment in Detroit's resurgence, too many others are simply skimming the surface. 

In the second installment of our three-part series, we take a closer look at the controversy surrounding public access to Navin Field and the prospect of plastic grass replacing a venerable and viable green space in the heart of Detroit's historic Corktown district.

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Feb. 4, 2016

Federal money earmarked for preservation could instead fund demolition of Detroit's historic Navin Field 

Artificial turf set to replace green space at site of old Tiger Stadium

When Detroit PAL CEO Tim Richey appeared before the city's Planning & Development committee, he pledged to retain the authenticity of the site.

"We're very excited about this opportunity to redevelop what we know is an iconic location in the city of Detroit," he said. 

And it is indeed exciting that children will continue to play ball there. But Detroit PAL's proposal, in fact, retains very little authenticity of the site. Today, the only remnants of historic Tiger Stadium are the flagpole in center field and the natural grass that has graced the corner of Michigan and Trumbull since 1896. 

That grass, voluntarily maintained since 2010 by a local mailman named Tom Derry and the volunteers of the Navin Field Grounds Crew, has hosted dozens of youth baseball games for six magical summers. 

And it is magic because it is authentic.  

But soon the grass could be torn out and replaced with artificial turf. 

Since 2010, Navin Field has been widely hailed as a natural, national treasure. But if PAL proceeds to tear out the grass, it effectively obliterates a viable and venerable green space in the heart of historic Corktown — and it ruins its reputation as a bonafide tourist attraction. 

A misuse of federal funds?

Senator Carl Levin's 2009 $3.8 million federal earmark, which is set to expire on October 1, calls for the preservation and redevelopment of a public park on the site of Tiger Stadium.  

But in fact there is little preservation in Detroit PAL's proposal to redevelop the site.

In response to pleas from Corktown residents and other local activists, Detroit PAL CEO Tim Richey has agreed to allow some public access to Navin Field.

"We will offer at least 15 hours per week of free access to the public," he told City Council. 

But how appealing will that access be if Navin Field becomes a sea of plastic?

"I think there's a huge case to be made to keep this natural grass," said City Councilman Gabe Leland. "You can't put a value on that field."

City Councilman Gabe Leland

"I think there's a huge case to be made to keep this natural grass." 

—Detroit City Councilman Gabe Leland

Despite those concerns, however, the Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy voted this week, 7-2, to transfer the remainder of Senator Levin's federal earmark (approximately $3 million) to Detroit PAL. 

'We have decided to choose a synthetic turf surface' 

PAL's insistence on artificial turf for historic Navin Field stems from its plan to heavily program the site, with 10-14 hours of daily activity, including football, soccer, lacrosse, and baseball.

"Our intention has always been to program this site heavily," Richey says. "We want to maximize the usage of the site." 

And with such heavy usage of the historic field, Richey contends that natural grass simply can't withstand that amount of activity, that grass simply isn't as durable as artificial turf.

But to support his claim, Richey cited a typo-riddled 2010 Cal-Berkeley study that focuses mainly on the safety of crumb rubber infill. 

"These fields result in little, if any, exposure to toxic substances," the report reads.

The study contains little primary research, however, and was sponsored by a consulting group that represents artificial turf manufacturers. 

But with the more recent reports of soccer players battling cancer, Congress is calling for an independent study on the safety of crumb rubber. 

Still, Richey pledged not to use the controversial infill at the Tiger Stadium site.

"We do know that there is quite a bit of community concern and national concern around the use of the rubber pellet infill," Richey said. ​"That rubber pellet is what's caused a lot of the concern around the synthetic surface as it relates to potential cancer risk.​

​"The safety of the children is of the utmost concern for us. It always has been; it always will be. I'm happy to say — and can say definitively today — that we will seek out the very best infill for the surface, and that the rubber pellets will not be included in the surface at old Tiger Stadium."

Detroit PAL CEO Tim Richey

"Rubber pellets will not be included in the surface at old Tiger Stadium."

—Detroit PAL CEO Tim Richey

"Programming more than 20 hours a week is going to cause damage to the [grass]." Richey told City Council, "I think the studies will show that the safety of the turf, as it relates to injuries, is equal if not better [than] the natural grass."

But according to a study published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine, injury rates for ACL sprains and ankle sprains for NFL games played on FieldTurf were higher than rates for those injuries in games played on real grass — and the differences were statistically significant.

Richey says the long-term maintenance and cost will be reduced with the use of synthetic turf.

"Over the course of 10 years," he says, "it's much more expensive to manage."

But plenty of well-known, reputable studies effectively debunk that myth.

According to Texas Multi-Chem, a prominent national sports field contractor, maintenance costs over a 10-year period (a generous estimate for an artificial turf lifespan) come to $558,909 for natural grass, and nearly $1.4 million for artificial turf.

10-YEAR MAINTENANCE PERIOD: 

GRASS                                ARTIFICIAL TURF 

$558,909                              $1.4 million

And that doesn't take into account the very real possibility of buyer's remorse.

On top of all that, PAL CEO Tim Richey has repeatedly cited Michigan State University turf expert Dr. John Rogers to support PAL's position that artificial turf is what's best for the Tiger Stadium site.

But Rogers, no fan of artificial turf, has expressed serious reservations about PAL's plan for the field.

As for the historic flagpole, the only actual remnant left of Tiger Stadium, Richey says that PAL intends to keep it.

"We're gonna [shine] up that flagpole," he told City Council. "We're gonna make it a beacon for those of us who remember Tiger Stadium."

City Councilman Scott Benson

Councilman Scott Benson then raised an intriguing question:

"Is there an opportunity," he asked, "to remove that sod and place it at another baseball field in the city of Detroit?"

"I think that's a very creative idea," said Matt Walters, of Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan's office. "We will certainly work with PAL and the Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy to explore that option."

Benson further suggested reaching out to the Detroit Tigers to see if they'd be willing to preserve some of the old Tiger Stadium sod at Comerica Park. 

"I'm happy to look at how the field can be reused," said PAL CEO Tim Richey. "The only concern I would have is the expense of lifting the field and moving it." 

And so the debate continues over the future of historic Navin Field.
For now, at least, the grass remains the same.

BREAKING NEWS: Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy votes to transfer $3 million federal earmark to Detroit PAL

Former U.S. Senator Carl Levin (left) and Detroit PAL CEO Tim Richey (center), pictured Sunday with WXYZ's Chuck Stokes, are expected to announce $11 million in funding today for their new Tiger Stadium redevelopment project. (Detroit PAL)    

The Navin Field Grounds Crew has learned that the Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy board voted yesterday, 7-2, to transfer Senator Carl Levin's $3 million federal earmark to the Detroit Police Athletic League, bringing PAL's fundraising total for their Kids at the Corner campaign to approximately $11 million.

Details are expected to be announced at a press conference later this morning.

There was no official update on whether historic Navin Field would be torn up and replaced with artificial turf, but the NFGC has learned that the Conservancy is now advocating a compromise on the controversial grass vs. turf issue. 

The NFGC has also learned that the Conservancy is now proposing to keep Navin Field's historic infield intact (with authentic grass and real dirt), while allowing Detroit PAL to install artificial turf in the outfield only.

The Navin Field Grounds Crew continues to maintain that a natural grass field is best for the historic corner of Michigan and Trumbull — the way it's been since 1896. Our research has shown that real grass is not only safer for our children, it's also healthier for Southwest Detroit's fragile environment. 

"The safety of the children should absolutely come first," says NFGC spokesman Dave Mesrey. "And after nearly a year of research, our experts tell us that natural grass is the safest surface for children and adults. We also believe that natural grass is consistent with Senator Levin's earmark, which calls for the preservation of a public park. 

"And in our view, real grass represents real preservation." 

Brandeis University Professor Guive Mirfendereski, a leading national expert on artificial turf and managing editor of industry watchdog SynTurf.org, calls plastic grass "a lifeless eco-desert."

NFGC founder Tom Derry says he's concerned that Navin Field will no longer be accessible to the public as it's been since 2010. "And if they put in artificial turf," Derry says, "it loses its appeal as a tourist attraction." 

Mesrey says he remains hopeful that Senator Levin and the Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy can work something out that benefits Detroit PAL's kids while still fulfilling the intention of the earmark. 

"Our supporters have even offered to contribute to a grass-roots fund," Mesrey said. "They want to support PAL ... they just don't want to support artificial turf."

For now, the natural grass remains at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull.

A press conference is scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday at DTE Energy headquarters in downtown Detroit.

The Un-Greening of Detroit: Artificial turf coming to site of historic Tiger Stadium? (Part 1 of 3)

LONG GONE? This 9-acre green space and quasi-public park on the site of
Detroit's historic Tiger Stadium could soon be replaced with artificial turf. (Tony Leja)

It's been an eventful year in the ongoing debate over the future of Navin Field, site of Detroit's historic Tiger Stadium. 

Despite the Navin Field Grounds Crew's five-year effort to transform the corner of Michigan and Trumbull from a weed-choked, garbage-strewn eyesore to a well-maintained baseball diamond and quasi-public park, the Detroit Police Athletic League is now poised to take over the site in 2016, with plans to limit public access and to tear out Navin Field's natural grass, replacing it with artificial turf.

This is not exactly a popular move.

In the first installment of our three-part series, we examine the recent controversy surrounding Navin Field, complete with video from Detroit City Council ...

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PART 1

At a public hearing before Detroit City Council's Planning & Development committee on November 12, Detroit PAL CEO Tim Richey outlined his organization's plans to build its new headquarters on the Tiger Stadium site (aka Navin Field) and its intent to break ground in March of 2016.

"We're excited to develop a new headquarters for [the] Police Athletic League," Richey said.

As part of the proposed development in the heart of Corktown, Detroit's oldest neighborhood, Richey indicated that PAL plans to retain at least some of Navin Field's historic qualities.

"We were able to ... retain the full dimensions of the field," he said.

Detroit PAL CEO Tim Richey

"Home plate will stay where home plate historically has been. The flagpole will stay where the flagpole has been."

—Tim Richey, Detroit PAL






In the effort to build its new headquarters, PAL has enlisted the help of Kansas City-based architects Pendulum Studios, which plans to replace Navin Field's historically natural grass surface with a substance that the Detroit Tigers and Lions never played on in Corktown: artificial turf. 

Pendulum, it should be noted, is currently working with Rochester-based General Sports to construct a new ballpark in Utica, Michigan, called Jimmy John's Field. General Sports, headed by industry veteran Andy Appleby, recently decided on natural grass for Jimmy John's Field. 

PAL's architect, Pendulum Studios, is constructing a natural grass baseball diamond in suburban Utica. 

Dollars and sense

PAL CEO Tim Richey also announced to City Council on November 12 that his organization had $5.5 million committed toward its Kids at the Corner campaign, which is expected to cost a total of $15.4 million. 

Most of that money, the NFGC has learned, comes in the form of tax credits and grants from various foundations.

According to a memorandum of Detroit's Economic Development Corporation, PAL had until today to reach the $6 million mark. It was unclear at press time whether that milestone had been met.

Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy Chairman Thomas Linn told Council that the remaining $3 million of Senator Carl Levin's $3.8 million 2009 federal earmark could be tacked on to the $5.5 million PAL's supporters have already committed to the project. 

That earmark, Linn said, must be spent by Oct. 1, 2016.

"Our intention is to use the $3 million ... to help fund the restoration that Mr. Richey described," Linn said. "We're quite excited about the fidelity that PAL has shown in terms of the history of the site, the dimensions, the flagpole, and so forth."  

But most observers, including nationally acclaimed baseball writer Dan Epstein, author of the cult hit Big Hair & Plastic Grass, and NBC's Craig Calcaterra, argue that PAL's plans don't constitute a true restoration of the field.

OTSC Chairman Thom Linn

"We believe the use of the earmark is consistent with [Senator Levin's] intentions."   

—Thom Linn, Chairman, Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy

And while Linn commended PAL for its efforts, not everyone on the board of the Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy is on board with artificial turf. 

In response to questioning from City Councilwoman Mary Sheffield, Detroit PAL CEO Tim Richey insisted that PAL had not yet made a decision on the type of playing surface to be used on the Tiger Stadium site. (That announcement would come later.)

Also appearing before the Planning & Development committee November 12 was developer Eric Larson, of Tiger Stadium Partners, who outlined his group's plans for an adjacent $35-million mixed-use retail and residential development along Michigan and Trumbull avenues, where Navin Field's predecessor, Bennett Park, stood from 1896-1911.

Defending their turf

During public comment, Michael Betzold, a former Detroit Free Press reporter and co-author of the definitive Tiger Stadium history Queen of Diamonds, attempted to put things in perspective for City Council.

"The way the field is now, it's a free, open, accessible community-events space that's entirely made possible by ... the Navin Field Grounds Crew and the efforts of Tom Derry, who was chased away by the cops when he first started mowing the place," Betzold said. "But he kept coming back — and if it wasn't for him, you wouldn't have a site worth talking about developing."

Betzold then posed an interesting question:

Michael Betzold

"Why doesn't the Navin Field Grounds Crew have a seat at this table?"  

—Tiger Stadium historian Michael Betzold

Despite the grounds crew's well-documented efforts to restore the historic ballfield, longtime NFGC member and community activist Adam Millikin was disappointed his group didn't have a seat at the big table. 

But in his limited time for public comment, Millikin made clear that the controversial crumb rubber infill in artificial turf does not constitute a healthy playing surface for Detroit's children. 

Adam Millikin

"When we found out that [PAL was] going to replace that historic, hallowed ground of grass with artificial turf, that's when we drew the line." 

—Adam Millikin, Navin Field Grounds Crew

Longtime Corktown resident and community leader Debra Walker also made a case for preserving the stadium site as a community green space.  

"The Corner represents a non-divisive opportunity," she said. "This isn't about a privileged community with massive amounts of green space in lieu of this site, this irreplaceable corner."

Debra Walker

"The Corner is where progress and preservation meet." 

—Debra Walker, Corktown Community Organization

Another longtime Corktown resident, Anthony O'Donnell, who owns a commercial building just steps away from home plate, expressed concern about public money being used for the PAL project and sought clarity on the controversial preservation issue from former U.S. Senator Carl Levin, whose 2009 $3.8 million earmark is still the topic of much discussion. 

Anthony O'Donnell

"I don't see any reason why we can't reach out to Senator Levin and ask him what he meant by historical preservation of the site."  

—Anthony O'Donnell, Corktown resident

 

At the conclusion of the hearing, the Planning & Development committee resolved to revisit the Navin Field land-transfer issue at their next session, which we'll cover in Part 2 of our three-part series. 

For an in-depth look at the November 12 land-transfer hearing, click on the video below:

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Come back later this week for Parts 2 and 3 of our special report on the future of Navin Field, site of Detroit's historic Tiger Stadium.

Celebrate historic Navin Field Sunday, December 13

Join the Navin Field Grounds and the Detroit Men's Senior Baseball League Sunday afternoon for a spirited game of winter baseball at the site of historic Tiger Stadium.

Not only could this be the first baseball game ever played in December at "The Corner," it could also be the final hardball game ever played there on natural grass 

So bring your friends and family out to the Corner one final time in 2015 and help celebrate Detroit's historic Navin Field.

First pitch is at 1 p.m.

A letter to Detroit City Council

Nov. 18, 2015

Avanti Press, Inc

155 W. Congress Street

Detroit, MI 48226

Dear City Council,

It is my belief that the highest and best use for the Tiger Stadium site is for it to be preserved as a natural grass baseball field, true to its historic dimensions and as a public park.

A public park would be of greater value to the Corktown community and the city as a whole. It would be available to residents and could represent a huge opportunity for destination tourism on a national level. Just because someone may not have strong feelings for the site or care about the history that was made on that field, doesn't mean they can't appreciate the economic opportunities that exist because of that love and history. 

The world's great brands strive to create emotional connectivity, and the Tiger Stadium site has tons of it. The interest in a historically preserved field, and a well-considered development surrounding it, will draw attention from all over America. 

The Detroit PAL plan, in its current form, puts at risk possibly the top placemaking opportunity we have in Detroit today. 

With a less intensely programmed grass field, PAL could still use the Michigan & Trumbull site as a showcase for clinics and championship games — and they could still build their offices, clubhouse, and museum there. It could be a win, win, win, win — for the City of Detroit, PAL kids, Corktown businesses and residents, and for those who appreciate the irreplaceable opportunity we have in keeping it real.

Detroit comprises an area of 139 square miles, and a group of dedicated citizens passionately wants to preserve four acres of  grass because of its truly unique historic value. 

PAL does great work in our city, but there are many fields throughout Detroit that would benefit from their investment. Please recognize the once-in-a-lifetime preservation opportunity we have here that exists nowhere else in the country.

Thank you.

Rick Ruffner

President

Avanti Press, Inc

155 W. Congress Street

Detroit, MI 48226

A letter to the Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy

November 23, 2015

Navin Field Grounds Crew
2121 Trumbull
Detroit, MI 48216

Thomas Linn
Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy
150 W. Jefferson # 2500 
Detroit, MI 48226
Mr. Linn,

As we have not received a response to our request for a meeting last week, we wish to reiterate that request.

As you know, tomorrow, Detroit City Council is scheduled to take up the Tiger Stadium (aka Navin Field) land-transfer issue.

We will be requesting that Council not transfer the land to the EDC without the stipulation that the field retain meaningful public access and natural grass.

Despite our five-year dedicated struggle to restore the field, we have not been formally approached for our input in its future. Still, the Navin Field Grounds Crew and its supporters stand ready to help Detroit PAL in its fundraising efforts.

We have a dedicated following nearly identical in size to PAL's, and they are arguably more engaged.
We, too, have friends and supporters in the corporate world who would prefer to see the ballpark remain a grass field. And we have yet to ask our backers for financial support, as we have traditionally been a grass-roots, volunteer group with no official nonprofit status.

That can change.
In fact, the paperwork is already in progress.

We have also met with local crowdfunding experts Patronicity to explore the possibilities of a fundraising campaign to benefit Navin Field and to offset the costs of maintaining natural grass. In the event that our financial support is not wanted at Navin Field, we will then use the money to restorehistoric Hamtramck Stadium, one of just six Negro Leagues ballparks still standing in America.

Ideally, we can do both.

As you know, since 2010, our group, led by head groundskeeper Tom Derry, has lovingly and painstakingly restored historic Navin Field at great personal expense and great personal sacrifice.
Without Mr. Derry's efforts, God only knows what would've become of Navin Field.

It's been a labor of love and the least we can do to help our hometown in its comeback.

We bring to your attention again this petition, Mr. Linn, signed by more than 2,500 people, asking that historic Navin Field retain its natural beauty.

As we've stated before, Detroit PAL's mission is an admirable mission and an honorable mission, one that we're happy to support. But we cannot support PAL's proposal to destroy historic Navin Field.

Our mission is your mission.
We have been true to ours, and we ask that you remain true to yours.

As you know, Senator Levin's 2009 federal earmark calls for the preservation and redevelopment of a public park.

Some might argue that the final dimensions and the flagpole constitute meaningful preservation.
But in our view, that's not nearly enough.

As I've stated before in the Metro Times, instead of overprogramming the site and subjecting the field to undue strain on its environmentally friendly natural grass, why not use Navin Field instead as a showcase field for special events and various Police Athletic League championships?

According to its website, PAL currently uses 37 fields throughout metro Detroit for baseball, softball, and football. Some are in good shape, while others are in need of an upgrade. With the help of our dedicated army of volunteers (and a substantial amount of reserves), the Navin Field Grounds Crew stands ready to help PAL maintain safe and healthy playing fields throughout the city.

Once its new headquarters are ready, PAL could continue to use these fields for practices and games while its student-athletes compete for a chance to play on Detroit's coveted field of dreams. 


PAL is understandably focused on programming for the kids, but the community also includes adults who deserve to have access to the historic site. It seems like a good plan for site usage should accommodate both. 

If the site is going to be redeveloped to benefit Detroit with public and private money — from the federal government, from tax subsidies, and from foundations — perhaps we should have a conversation about the appropriate mix of usage and the extent of the usage of the historic field.

As for artificial turf, no matter the brand, no matter the infill, the fact remains that it is plastic, a "lifeless eco-desert," according to Brandeis University professor Guive Mirfendereski and the managing editor of industry watchdog SynTurf.org. 

This is the last thing Detroit needs.

We also wish to bring to your attention that the costs of an artificial turf field are often misleading. (See this story in Forbes on how taxpayers often get fooled on the associated costs.)

After more than a year of research myself (far more than the LPD and PAL have conducted combined), I believe that Detroit PAL has been sold a bill of goods.

Well-meaning athletic programs all over America have been bamboozled by the synthetic turf industry into thinking plastic grass is lower maintenance and lower cost than a grass field.

This is hogwash.

We ask that you please go back to the drawing board, reconsider this entire proposal, and grant us a seat at the table so that we can discuss how we can further help the cause.  


Sincerely,

Dave Mesrey
Founding member
Navin Field Grounds Crew