The Rotary Club of Placerville just installed a batting cage at Placerville's Rotary Park. While the club did the leg work, it was a collaborative effort with Hangtown Little League, the City of Placerville, and the great community we live in.
The Rotary Club of Placerville recently completed the installation of a batting cage at Placerville’s Rotary Park. The project still has a few more hours of work ahead but the cage is up and ready for use. The project was a result of a conversation with former Hangtown Little League President Dallas Sweeney and current Rotary Club President Kurt Raffetto. Sweeney mentioned the need for the cage and pointed out the possible location. Raffetto then made it a goal of his current presidential year to get the batting cage installed.
The project started with Rotary’s annual Lobster on the River fundraiser in September 2018 to raise money for the project. Additional funds were provided by donations in honor of the late Joe Stancil, a Placerville icon and Rotarian for over 60 years. Current Hangtown Little League President Dale Gomes and his board provided a donation to Rotary of almost a third of the project. Herrick Tree Service volunteered tree clearing for the cage while the City of Placerville waived all permit fees to build the project. The Placerville City Council unanimously approved the project at a meeting earlier this year.
The club constructed the cage on Thursday, 6 June in lieu of their regular meeting. In addition to numerous club members, Hangtown Little League parent Justin Miller provided power tools and labor to the project. Additional work includes a safety railing along the path to the cage, reinstallation of a bench near the playground, and ground work where the club was unable to pour a concrete sidewalk.
The Rotary Club of Placerville is celebrating their 75th year of service to the community and meets on Thursday’s at 6:15 at the Smith Flat House. The club was recently presented an award for the “Service Project of the Year” for Rotary District 5190 for their Camp Fire Fundraiser last November, raising $100,000 for the victims of the Paradise Camp Fire. This year’s Lobster on the River will raise funds for additional improvements at Rotary Park and downtown Placerville and takes place at Henningsen Lotus Park on September 14th. Tickets will be available soon at www.placervillerotary.org.