Stephen Gillis and Shawn Kingsmore, both fathers of players on the Stilly Valley Little League Rookies, noticed that their 6‑ to 8‑year‑old sons were practicing on a patch of cracked grass because the team’s home field had been abandoned since 2018.
The derelict diamond in Arlington Heights, once a hub for neighborhood games, had fallen into disrepair, its outfield overgrown and its dugouts empty, until the two coaches approached Laura Hofmann, a longtime member of the Arlington Heights Improvement Club, with a proposal to restore the site.
Hofmann, who had previously fended off outside attempts to acquire the land, saw an opportunity to turn the neglected property into a practice venue for local youth teams, and she connected the coaches with a network of volunteers, firefighters, and nearby businesses.
With the help of community members, including staff from North Sound Pest Control, D&R Design, and W5 Construction Services, the coaches cleared debris, leveled the ground, and began installing basic infrastructure, turning the field into a usable practice space for the Rookies.
Although the field remains unsuitable for official Stilly Valley Little League competition due to its distance from Arlington, the coaches envision a fully restored venue that could host games and tournaments, providing a safe, dedicated space for the area’s youngest athletes.
To fund a comprehensive overhaul — filling and leveling the outfield, delivering quality infield dirt, and upgrading dugouts, backstops, and fencing — the team organized a charity softball game on June 26, braving heavy rain to attract donors.
The event raised between $1,500 and $2,000, and organizers have scheduled a second fundraiser for August 21, aiming to reach a $10,000 target that will cover the remaining restoration work.
Local businesses and fire departments have already contributed time, equipment, and materials, and the Arlington Heights Improvement Club encourages interested supporters to contact them via email for further involvement.
A Community United by Baseball
The restoration project illustrates how grassroots initiatives can revitalize public spaces, turning idle land into a vibrant asset for youth development and neighborhood pride.