By Katie Wilson
FAIRMONT — The Polar Bear Baseball Boosters want the board of education’s support in a project to replace lighting at Mary Lou Retton Park.
Booster members and FSHS baseball coach Steve Naternicola have attended several meetings in the past weeks, including the Marion County Commission’s meeting. Commissioners agreed to look into helping raise the necessary funds to fix the problem.
According to the booster organization, the problem is lights that are nearly 20 years old. The lights are inadequate for high school and college play and are mounted on wooden poles.
FSHS is one of four high school teams without a field of its own, so the Polar Bears utilize the fields at Mary Lou Retton Park to practice and host home games.
In addition, the multi-field park, which is owned by the county and the Marion County Parks and Recreation Commission (MCPARC), hosts games and practices for T-Ball, Little League, Babe Ruth, American Legion and sometimes the Fairmont State University Falcons.
Booster members came to the meeting looking for a commitment from board members for the lights and came away with a promise to work with other public entities.
“We can’t vote on this because it’s not on the agenda, but if you want to leave this meeting knowing that we will sit at the table with the other entities, I don’t speak for the board, but we’ve always done that,” said board President the Rev. James Saunders.
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