THATCHER — At the most recent Thatcher Town Council meeting, Town Manager Heath Brown informed the council he was applying for an Arizona Diamondbacks grant to build a regulation Little League baseball field.
The location would be north of Splash Pad Park, on the east corner where Stadium turns into Arena Way.
“I envision a crow’s nest, raised bleachers, dugouts, you know, kind of a top-of-the-line facility, and still lots of room for parking,” Brown said.
The Diamondbacks’ Mike Kennedy “Diamonds Back” Youth Field Building Program has built or refurbished 43 youth baseball fields across the state since 2000, at a value of more than $10 million.
According to the Diamondbacks’ grants website, “The fields are built through the aid of corporate sponsor APS, local businesses, funds from the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation and monetary donations from individual players.” If approved, the grant will only cover construction; the funds may not be used for land acquisition.
Thatcher will be the first to apply from Graham or Greenlee counties. The deadline to apply for 2023 is July 31.
