Ceremony to Mark Ballpark Renovation

Just a few weeks ago, the baseball diamonds across from Hansen Dam were like a field of nightmares--with garbage-strewn dugouts, overgrown outfield grass and a graffiti-tagged backstop.

But this week, Terry Hill and others have spent the daylight hours sanding, stripping, painting and landscaping the fields in Sunnyslope Park as part of a renovation project funded in part by Ball Park Franks and the Points of Light Foundation.

“Our goal has always been to make this a better place for our kids to play,” said Hill, vice president of the Pacoima Youth Athletic Assn. “I think we’ve come a long way in doing that.”

For seven years the athletic association has spent its weekends maintaining the fields only to have them trashed and spray-painted with graffiti during the week.

When the Volunteer Center Assistance League of Southern California heard of the association’s commitment, the league linked up with Ball Park Franks and has spent this week renovating the fields.

The cleanup will culminate with a dedication ceremony today followed by a series of Little League games.

On Thursday, a dozen volunteers were scattered throughout the fields, landscaping the outfield and covering graffiti with a deep forest-green paint.

“I know how excited kids get with a nice, clean ballpark. They’re going to love this,” said volunteer Ron Beshears.