LONG BEACH – The Peninsula is coming together by way of a cooperative, multi-pronged effort to get much-needed improvements off the ground at Culbertson Field in Long Beach.

The field, located at the corner of Washington Avenue and Second Street North, is one of the busiest areas on the Peninsula during the summer months, due to baseball and softball games, which are attended by youths from all over the area. The games are also an attraction for many parents as well as tourists, but the park’s facilities sorely needed upgrading.

In order to make these improvements, the city of Long Beach, the Ilwaco Sports Booster Club, Pacific County and concerned citizens have joined hands, according to Long Beach Mayor Dale Jacobson.

“This is a real partnership,” said Jacobson. “We are combining sweat and money to make improvements to the park that the whole community will benefit from, especially the kids, who come from as far away as Naselle and across the river to play ball out there.”

As a result of these combined efforts, Culbertson Field will have a new concession stand/restroom facility by this summer.

Much of the labor for the framing and foundation work for the structure, which just began in the last week, is coming from volunteer labor.

Many of those contributing their time are local officials, including Long Beach City Councilors Mike Unruh and Gary Luthe, as well as Fred Cook, with the Long Beach Planning Commission. Also volunteering his time is former Long Beach Mayor Kenny Ramsey. Others who are expected to contribute their time before the project is completed include Long Beach Planning Commission Chair David Bross, as well as concerned citizens such as Steve Gray, a local fisherman.

Pacific County Commissioner Jon Kaino, of Ilwaco, is also expected to kick in some elbow grease. In actuality, the project getting off the ground has much to do with efforts of Kaino, who is also president of the Ilwaco Sports Boosters.

“I think it’s a project that will help in a couple of different ways,” said Kaino. “It will help kids in community and it is also going to be an asset to the tournaments in the summertime, which bring in tourism dollars. It is just a good community project.”

Kaino said he attributes much of the success of the project to Karen Gray, who works for the city of Long Beach is also affiliated with the Ilwaco Sports Boosters.

According to Kaino, the project will also include a scorer’s “crow’s nest,” which will be atop the new concession stand/restroom facility – a facility which is being made possible by funding from several streams.

Pacific County, the city of Long Beach and the Ilwaco Sports Boosters, all contributed $5,000 each. Additional funding to the tune of $35,000 came from a grant from the Templin Foundation.

“The total cost is about $80,000,” said Jacobson. “So, we will have to conjure up more funding. I think that we will pursue more grants. Long Beach is pretty clever in finding money in hidden corners.”

Other improvements, which are separate city of Long Beach projects, are also currently taking place to enhance and improve Culbertson Field. A covered picnic area, just west of the under-construction concession stand/restroom facility, is nearing completion. In addition, horseshoe pits are being installed adjacent to the covered picnic area.

Plans are also in the works to obtain funding to replace the scoreboard at the field.