It was a beautiful spring day last Saturday at Butterfield Park. The perfect day to commemorate another achievement in the long-standing partnership between Elmhurst Park District and Elmhurst University. With Elmhurst University baseball players ready to take the field, both organizations gathered to celebrate the recently completed upgrades at Butterfield Park ball diamond #1, which is utilized for both collegiate and youth baseball in Elmhurst.
State Senator Suzy Glowiak-Hilton (D-24) and Elmhurst University President, Troy D. VanAken joined Elmhurst Park District Executive Director Jim Rogers on the pitcher’s mound for a ceremonial first pitch to mark the occasion.
Also present were members of the Park Board and the University’s leadership, as well as representatives from Elmhurst community youth baseball and softball groups and Park District staff who worked on the ball diamond project.
The upgrades at the ball diamond are just one example of the cooperative relationship that has existed between the Park District and University for more than 30 years. Other examples are the artificial turf field at Berens Park and the softball field at Salt Creek Park, which is the home of the Elmhurst University softball team.
“These facilities have, over time, proven themselves to be mutually beneficial to both of our organizations and the Elmhurst community as a whole and we look forward to continuing to work together into the future,” said Rogers.
Funding for the $400,000 project came partially from a $200,000 grant secured by Senator Glowiak-Hilton from the State of Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. This grant was then matched by equal $100,000 contributions from the University and the Park District.
Upgrades at the park involved replacing the original chain link backstop and perimeter fencing with a more modern backstop netting system to better contain foul balls and improve field visibility for spectators. An upgraded black vinyl fence now lines the perimeter, replacing the previous 30-year-old fence. Other enhancements included improved warning track material, new dugout facades, and a new scoreboard, which improve the field’s aesthetics and meet the expectations of collegiate level athletes.
