Bill Saunders, Silver Creek Township Supervisor and Don Lyons, Mayor of Dowagiac, pose in front of a baseball field at Russom Park. The Russom Park project is a collaboration between Silver Creek Township and the city of
Dowagiac. Leader Photo/AMBROSIA NELDON

In 2014, Little League athletes will have modernized and updated equipment to play on.

For the past several years, Silver Creek Township and the City of Dowagiac have been hard at work developing plans for an updated soccer, softball and baseball complex for children and other community members in the Dowagiac area.

The project group received $1 million in grants from the state of Michigan, including $200,000 in grants from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund. The city and township were required to match funds to a certain degree, totaling $62,000 from Dowagiac and $48,000 from Silver Creek.

“This is the culmination of a dream that a number of people have had for many years. Without our partnership with Silver Creek Township none of this would have been possible. Both parties can take pride in this cooperative effort that will benefit many kids and their families for years to come,” Lyons said.

Mayor Don Lyons said members of neighboring houses of the park, located 28776 Yaw St. in Silver Creek, were excited for several of the features of the park, including the walking trails featured in the updated athletic complex.

Walking paths encircling the complex are already paved and ready for community members to enjoy. Two parking lots with 530 parking spots have already been paved and painted.

As part of phase two of the project (to be completed by the spring of 2014), six full-size or twelve half-size soccer fields will be installed on the west side of the complex. A youth park and walking/bicycle path will be installed in the spring of 2014, extending from the National Guard armory, located 700 W. Prairie Ronde, to the park. The playground equipment installed at the park will include equipment for disabled youth.

The four Little League baseball diamonds and one regulation diamond that are already on site at Russom Park are being upgraded and enhanced to meet the needs of modern youth.

Phase three of the project will install two regulation softball fields to the south side of the existing baseball fields.