Updates Approved for Optimist Park

DGSA is pleased to announce that it has received approval from the DePere Park and Recreation board to proceed with several improvements to Optimist Park. These improvements include the following:

1.) Construction of a third softball diamond at Optimist Park.
2.) Addition of a double batting cage.
3.) Surfacing of the areas under the bleachers.

These improvements would be great additions to our program. As many of you know, field space is very hard to find in DePere and, as our program grows, we are finding it harder and harder to accommodate all our needs with the current facilities. These improvements will help to provide future growth for our program as well as provide improved facilities for our exciting players.

With all the positives from the above improvements, the financial burden of these improvements falls on DGSA. The City of DePere has not budgeted funds for this project. The cost of these improvements will be approximately $100,000.

Currently, with pledges from the Optimist Club of DePere, and private donors we already have $65,000. We would like to start and complete these improvements in 2008 and have them ready for play starting in 2009. Therefore, we need to raise the remaining $35,000.

DGSA needs your help in raising the dollars needed for these improvements. We are looking for help from private donors, companies and charitable foundations. Donations can be in the form of labor, supplies or can be cash donations. All donors will receive a brick that will be permanently displayed on the concession stand at Optimist Park. We urge all DGSA members to help with this fund raising project. If you are willing or know of someone who would be willing to be a contributor to this project, please contact us. All donations will be tax deductible.

We need your help to make this possible. Please contact us if you can help or need more information.

Tom Vande Hei - Project Manager – tvandehei@dpgsa.com or 336-9306
Tim Smith – DPGSA President – tsmith@dpgsa.com or 336-7505

How can you or your business support DGSA?

DGSA's long term goals include further improvement of our existing fields and the creation of new playing fields. Some of our goals in the next couple of years include dugouts, batting cages and more lights on the fields. Being non-profit we have limited resources and over 400 girls to support. We need financial support to continue moving forward. You and your business can help us meet these long term goals through one or more of the follow options:

CORPORATE SPONSOR: $500 and $1,000 levels are available. Businesses receive a team sponsor, banners at Optimist Park and a web link, all designed to help promote your business and show your support of the DGSA .

BRICK SUPPORTER: Purchase a brick on the concession building at Optimist Park and show your support. Brick prices vary upon the size of brick and start at $100.

CASH / MATERIAL DONOR: You or your business can support the DGSA with donation of cash or materials needed for future projects. We encourage you to consider sponsoring a dugout, batting cage or lights for a field.

All registration fees, team sponsor funds and concession stand proceeds are used each year to put our girls on the field. This covers equipment, umpires, uniforms, etc. Long term funding comes from the sponsor and supporter options listed above.

We encourage you to help improve the conditions for our players by making these capital improvements possible.

Please contact Tim Smith (tsmith@dpgsa.com) for more information on any of these items.