ESU Stroudsburg Little League break ground

Photo from left to right: Rich Santoro, executive director, ESU Foundation; John Kochmansky, head coach, ESU baseball; Bernie Kozen, district 29 administrator, Stroudsburg Little League; Joseph McDonald Jr. Esq., vice president of Stroudsburg Little League; Dr. Gary Gray, ESU athletic director; Dr. Marcia G. Welsh, ESU president; Jerry Robertson, president Stroudsburg Little League; Ed Cramer, Stroud Township Supervisor; Kristine Bush, office of Senator Mario Scavello; Representative Rosemary Brown; Bill Blake, Vigon International; Representative Maureen Madden; Jaime Wohlbach, head coach ESU softball

East Stroudsburg University and the East Stroudsburg University Foundation have been awarded a grant of $20,000 from Mount Airy Foundation to support the Community Athletic Complex Improvement Project at Creekview Park in Stroudsburg. The funding will assist with renovations and improvements to the ESSA and Hughes Field Complex at Creekview Park.

ESU, the Stroud Township Board of Supervisors, and the Stroudsburg Little League broke ground for new baseball and softball fields at the athletic complex on May 3, 2018. The project was launched in June 2016 when the ESU Foundation kicked off a $1.8 million fundraising campaign to help pay for it.

The enhancements will include the following on both the baseball and softball fields: installation of artificial turf, two sets of bullpens for each field, construction of home and away dugouts, permanent and accessible bleacher seating for fans, designated hitting cages, and overhead netting to protect fans from foul balls.

When complete, the project will create optimal playing fields for ESU’s baseball and softball teams that meet regulations for NCAA competitions. It will also provide a state-of-the-art facility and fields on which youth and high school teams can play. To date, $1.7 million has been raised and the ESU Foundation looks to alumni and friends of the baseball and softball programs and community partners to complete funding of the project.

“Mount Airy Casino Resort is committed to the advancements of East Stroudsburg University’s Community Athletic Improvement Project and the opportunities it will create for student athletes,” said Vincent Jordan, vice president of Marketing & Player Development at Mount Airy Casino Resort. “We are invested in providing resources that will aid in higher education for the next generation of leaders, and we look forward to continuing our support of the local community.”

Those interested in more information about this philanthropic initiative may contact Rich Santoro at rsantoro@esufoundation.org or call (570) 422-3333.