ILWACO — As fans and followers of the Ilwaco Lady Fishermen softball team already undoubtedly are aware, the 2025 squad is playing their games at a new home ball field.

The Lady Fishermen kicked off their home slate of games this season on March 25 at the Ilwaco Community Park’s softball field, where renovations were recently completed thanks to a combination of public and private funding and coordination between the city and its park and recreation commission, Ocean Beach School District, volunteers and contractors.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held in between the March 25 doubleheader between the Ilwaco softball team and Pe Ell/Willapa Valley, where those who contributed to the renovation of the field were acknowledged for their work.

The city, back in the summer of 2021, received about $190,000 in grant dollars from the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office — a required 20% match from Ilwaco brought the total funding to just shy of $240,000. Another $25,000 grant from the Templin Foundation allowed the city to fund the remaining balance for the renovations, said Ilwaco City Administrator Holly Beller.

The scope of work was determined by the Ilwaco Parks and Recreation Commission, with the commission also seeking input from OBSD. In the end, renovations to the field included: rebuilt home and visitor dugouts; a new batting cage and bullpen; a new infield and infield fencing; a seasonal outfield fence line; base configuration for softball and Little League; a new pitching machine; new home and visitor bleachers; a new ADA-accessible walkway; paved parking; and a new storage shed.

The preliminary scope of the work had also included renovations to the basketball court — including an open-sided cover for inclement weather. While the cost of that work meant it couldn’t be included in the final project, the city aims on tackling it next.

Beller credited a handful of people for making the renovations a reality, including Chris Patana, OBSD’s maintenance supervisor and now-athletic director. She also highlighted the volunteer work of Adam Anderson, stationed at Coast Guard Air Station Astoria, for his considerable work in helping build the dugouts.

She also highlighted the contractors involved, including Big Tuna Construction, which placed the poles for the batting cages and bullpen, as well as Brothers Concrete for doing all of the concrete work. Ed Hillard, with Little Digger Excavating, spent multiple weekends assisting with the prep work for the batting cages and bullpen, while Tim and Nick Haldeman worked on the design of the base.

Beller noted that Peninsula Landscape Supply was on-call anytime materials were needed to keep the cages and bullpen progressing, and she also noted that Julez Orr, the entire parks and rec commission, and other community volunteers donated hours of “backbreaking work.” Other commission members include retiring chair Vinessa Karnofski, now-retired members Jon Ducharme and MaryAnne Murray, David Jensen, Stacie Habermann and incoming chair Nick Haldeman.

“The City of Ilwaco Public Works crew came in and dressed everything up by hanging the batting cage netting, installing insulation in the storage shed, and building the bleachers,” she added.

The commission will have an opening by the end of the year, with Beller noting that the city is always taking letters of interest.