04/25/2026
On April 11th the City of Spring Valley, SV Park Board, Hall High School, and the Hall Red Devil Baseball Team Celebrated with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of the newly renovated Little League Diamond.
For those who were unable to attend this recognition is for those who help make this happen :
"Thank you all for being here today as we celebrate an exciting new chapter for Kirby Park and for the youth of Spring Valley.
As Mayor, I had been hearing concerns about the condition of this baseball diamond. So I came out, walked the field, and took a closer look. At first glance, it felt familiar—like the same field many of us grew up playing on. But the reality was, the field had deteriorated over time. It had become uneven, unsafe, and difficult to play on. The pitching mound was off, and after every rain, the field was covered in standing water.
We knew we could do better—for our kids, for our community, and for the future of baseball in Spring Valley.
What started as a modest improvement project quickly turned into something much more. As we worked through the process, we made the decision to fully renovate the infield using a specialized infield mix—the same high-quality material used at Hall High School. We also added underground water drainage to address the persistent flooding issues and completed much-needed fencing improvements.
This project truly represents what can happen when a community comes together.
I would like to take a moment to thank everyone who played a role in making this possible:
• Keith Urbanski and Ed Kowalski for their daily oversight and commitment to getting this project done right.
• Joe Sedlock for leading the tear-out and reconstruction of the infield with passion and dedication to making everything right.
• Illinois Valley Fence & Pool for their excellent work on the fencing.
• Our City of Spring Valley water and street departments for their hard work installing water lines and supporting the project throughout.
• Eric Bryant, Jesse Brandt, and the Hall High School Board of Education for their partnership, support, and financial contribution
• Dave Pellegrini and D&M Landscaping for hauling the infield mix
* Chad and Danielle Vandermeersh for their extreme generosity by donating all the sod for the infield and installing it for no charge.
• The Spring Valley Park Board and our City Council for believing in and supporting this investment in our community
This field is more than just dirt and grass—it’s a place where memories will be made, where young athletes will grow, and where our community will come together.
And while today is a celebration, we’re not done yet. We have more improvements ahead, including restoring the concession stand, installing a new PA system, and launching a fundraiser to replace the scoreboard.
Today, we stand here proud—not just of this field, but of what we can accomplish together.
Thank you all for your support, for being here this morning, and for believing in our community.
And to the Hall Red Devils—good luck this season.
Let’s play ball. ⚾"
