Legion Takes On Improvement Projects In Park

Sidney's American Legion Post #17 has been busy this summer on a couple of highly visual projects in Legion Park.

First of those has been work on the lighting system at the Legion Baseball Field. The park has been "dark" since a spring storm blew over one of the light poles in right field. Since then, Legion games were played earlier in the day because of the dark spot.

Legion officials have been working to check the field and potential solutions since the pole was blown over. In checking the remaining poles, Legionnaire Al Jung said they found one other pole that had mild softening under ground. Jung said the problem was fixed with a wrap that will keep the moisture away from the pole, as well as providing extra strength.

With the aging poles, the Legion talked briefly about installing steel poles. Briefly only, due to a projected cost of more than $125,000 to replace all.

For now, Jung said, the pole that broke off will be replaced with a "second," a pole that doesn't meet exact specifications for other users, but will meet the ballpark's needs. The group will also have to find funding to replace the lights, which were destroyed when the pole fell.

Just a baseball's throw away from the broken light pole, the Legion's other summer project has been completed. In July, an expansion project was undertaken at the War Memorial. The project saw a six-foot by 25-foot wall added to the area where memorial plaques have been placed on stanchions entering the memorial.

With very few places remaining to mount memorial plaques, the Legion commissioned local contractors to build the addition. The project also included new sidewalk entering the memorial.

Plaques remembering local family or friends who have served can be ordered through Tom or Gordy and Gehrig-Stitt Funeral Home.