Sports Field Bid Begins
A fund-raising effort is now under way to build a junior sports field and remake a court in front of the Eleanor Whitmore Early Childhood Center in East Hampton so that 3, 4, and 5-year-olds can participate in tennis, basketball, soccer, and other outdoor activities.
John Graham, the owner of Hampton Racquet in East Hampton, has joined forces with Good Circle, an online crowdsourcing platform based here, to raise the necessary money — with Hampton Racquet matching every donation, dollar for dollar.
Since launching the project in December, 14 backers have pledged their support. Taking matching funds into consideration, organizers still need to raise $5,720 to meet the goal of $17,140 by the March 14 deadline. Smart Sport Surfacing of Amagansett, which constructs and refinishes athletic courts, has committed to donating resurfacing work.
Those interested can pledge various amounts — from $10 to $1,000 — with incentives (from court time to tennis lessons to monthly memberships) provided by Hampton Racquet.
Three years ago, after attending a fund-raiser and noting the lack of an outdoor physical education program, Mr. Graham launched a sports program at Eleanor Whitmore. While children have access to a playground, physical education is primarily taught indoors.
Now, two to three days each week, he works with 3-year-olds to improve their fine-motor skills and hand-eye coordination and introduces 4 and 5-year-olds to a beginning tennis program (using donated rackets and balls). Since starting the program a particular emphasis has been on not only leveling the playing field, so to speak, but also encouraging young girls to take risks and feel more confident as athletes.
“I hate when kids who don’t have money get secondary crap,” said Mr. Graham, who sees the fund-raising campaign as working to “give the best to everybody — especially to those whomight not get a chance to get it.”
Currently, students have access to a “converted slab of asphalt” equipped with a net. The fund-raising initiative would work to “expand it, paint it, and help make it look right,” Mr. Graham said, noting that it would include a United States Tennis Association-sanctioned tennis court.
The aim, should the necessary money come through, is for the new field to be completed by the first week in May. Organizers hope that the wider community will come to use the tennis and basketball court, as well as the junior soccer field, on weekends and for special events and birthday parties.
Whether through small or large donations, Fred Doss, one of Good Circle’s co-founders, is hopeful that people here will see the value in pledging their support. Good Circle now has eight projects in the works, both local and national in scope.
“We’re hoping to break ground in April and get this done,” Mr. Doss said earlier this week. “Many of these kids would not have access to these sports otherwise. The more people who are involved and aware in the community, the better.”
Donations can be made at Good Circle online.