March 28, 2014 - The Fulton High School Softball Team will kick off its first home game on Monday, March 31, at 5:30 p.m., holding an opening ceremony at Christenberry Ballfields, 931 Oglewood Drive.

One of the City-owned fields recently underwent an estimated $30,000 in renovations, courtesy of a Fulton booster club.

Joe Walsh, Knoxville Parks and Recreation Director, said the upgrades are thanks to the Fulton High School Softball Booster Club, headed by Will Gunn, the club's president.

"The team and its booster club have worked nearly every weekend on the field since November," Walsh said. "They obtained sponsorships and they did the labor. This project is truly commendable and something in which the players should take pride."

The largest portion of the project involved demolishing the old dugouts and replacing them with masonry block dugouts.

The City contributed about $3,000 for supplies to help with the renovations, while the booster club obtained donations of masonry block from General Shale, paint from Glidden, tools from the Schaad Road Home Depot, and the free use of heavy machinery from ECB Masonry. One of the booster club members donated his professional masonry skills to construct the dugouts, and Painters and More donated the painting labor.

The City's Public Service Department crews have spread mulch to assist with the renovation.

Along with City crews, the booster club routinely cleans up the area surrounding the facility and keeps up maintenance on the ballfield itself.

"This is an ideal situation we love to see - community groups taking ownership of their parks," Walsh said.

Meanwhile, Christenberry Ballfields will be the site for Mayor Madeline Rogero's Annual Budget Address, at noon on Thursday, April 24.