The newly restored Prospect Fields will host the next generation of ball players
For decades, hundreds of starry-eyed kids have started their baseball dreams back in Crawford Woods. Despite its past of neglected grass and mismanaged dirt, the little league on the east side of Hamilton finally has someone at the helm with the same passion.
Billy Paragin, who caught for the Hamilton Big Blue before spending two years in the Atlanta Braves organization, has completely revamped little league fields nestled in the back of Crawford Woods.
Now called Prospect Fields, the collection of fields consisting of four little league diamonds, one softball field, two fields designated for Miracle League play and one regular sized field have better playing surfaces than most high school diamonds in the area. And it’s thanks to Paragin, who describes himself as a “turf nerd.”
A few years back, Paragin was helping out at East Hamilton Little League and was talking to then President of the league, Greg Ronquist. Noticing how overwhelmed Ronquist looked, Paragin mentioned the idea of having someone maintain the fields and the league just rents them. ‘Find me that person,’ Paragin recalled Ronquist telling him.
“Right then the idea clicked in my head,” said Paragin. “I went home and told my wife [Justine]. She didn’t hesitate, she was on board immediately.”
The fields are owned by the city and leased to Paragin. Since 2019 he has invested into the fields and has maintained them full time.
The endeavor hasn’t always been easy. On top of the complete makeover of the fields, Paragin has found the hardest part has been keeping the park clean and friendly.
From homeless camping out, to signs of drug use as well as other problems all happening in a park meant for kids to enjoy.
“It got to the point where I went down to my knees and asked the Lord, is this the reason I need to do this,” he said.
Paragin has found his purpose in life, and it’s these fields and creating an unforgettable experience for the kids that play there. He was a ballplayer who grew up in the North End, so he understands fully what baseball can do in the formative years of a child’s life.
“I truly found what I think, what my purpose in life is up here,” he said. “There are some kids that come up to the concession stand with no money. We don’t know if that was the first meal of the day or the last meal of the day for that kid. We do as much as we can for the kids, because we know the majority of them won’t play professional or college ball, so we want them to remember this. I still remember playing games at Grant Elementary as a kid.”
Paragin had little to no experience of maintaining ball fields before taking over in 2019, but he did own and operate a successful chemical lawn care business beforehand. There he found his passion for turf, which is expressed in the care he takes at Prospect Fields.
Each of the four main little fields will have their own theme, after the great cathedrals of the game.
The first of which will be modeled after the home of the Boston Red Sox, Fenway Park. With the patented “Green Monster” in left field. The frame of the monster is already built and plans to be finished by the end of the year.
Wrigley Field will be the inspiration for another field. With plans to brick the backstop and have an ivy covered outfield fence. Prospect Fields has a third diamond modeled after the Field of Dreams. With a walkway to the pitcher’s mound, and a plan to have some sort of fake corn adorn the outfield fence.