A field of their own: East Texas Special Needs Softball, City of Lufkin cut ribbon on new park
The Lufkin Daily News
Sunday, June 07, 2009
Just a couple of weeks after launching its new league with an Opening Day ceremony, the East Texas Special Needs Softball League, along with several city officials, cut the ribbon on a brand-new ballpark designed especially for those kids.
With Mayor Jack Gorden and Park Board Chairman Victor Bruce performing the honors, city officials, parents and players applauded the launching of the specially made field at Winston Park, an event Gorden described as collaboration between citizens and local government.
 Gary Stallard/The Lufkin Daily News
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| Lufkin Parks and Recreation director Don Hannabas tosses out the first pitch to the Astros’ Skylar to launch the new field at Winston Park designated specifically for the East Texas Special Needs Softball League. |
“This is a great example of what can happen when a government allows the community to guide it,” Gorden told the crowd. “Great things can happen, great things that serve our citizens and their specific needs. This is what happens when everyone works together for a common cause.”
The new field features new dugouts, bleachers, fences and a manicured infield and outfield any major league park would be proud to own.
On Saturday, it also sported youngsters from the Astros and Rangers excited about playing softball. Moments after Parks and Recreation Director Don Hannabas tossed out the first pitch to the Astros’ Skylar, players ran to their positions while others grabbed a bat. They didn’t even wait for the obligatory, “Play ball!” call from the parents.
“Obviously there’s a tremendous need for this, and it’s one of those situations we just don’t see every day, so we tend not to think about it,” Gorden said. “Just today, I’m thinking Winston Park is one of our city’s facilities that just isn’t utilized to its fullest potential; we can expand this idea so that people throughout East Texas will be drawn here for other Special Needs events.”
League president Deanna Ramsey lauded the city’s response to the kids’ needs, saying officials went far above and beyond the call.
“This is wonderful. I’m speechless at the fact the city made this more than we ever dreamed,” Ramsey said. “We were just hoping for a backstop or something, but we held a meeting and they realized our kids have special circumstances, and they took those into account. They added the fence and dugouts with shade. It’s just fabulous.”