Family wants to renovate ball field in Graham's name

Paige Graham loved sports and he played them with passion. So much so, his family has raised more than $30,000 since his death to help renovate ball fields at Riverside Park.

Print Email A family wants to renovate two old ball fields and a playground at Riverside Park in Springfield in honor of long-time volunteer Paige Graham. Photo: Photo by Len EmeryPublished May 9, 2014 in the Rutland Herald Family wants to renovate ball field in Graham’s name By SUSAN SMALLHEER Staff Writer SPRINGFIELD — Paige Graham loved sports and he played them with passion. So much so, his family has raised more than $30,000 since his death to help renovate ball fields at Riverside Park to benefit younger baseball and softball players. The Springfield Select Board last week gave its blessing to the project, and agreed to name the renovated ball field in Graham’s memory. Graham, whose full name was Burton Paige Graham III, died in December 2009 of cancer at the age of 56 in Huntsville, Ala., where he had moved to pursue professional advancement. He had graduated from Springfield High School in 1971, and was a star on the high school football, basketball and baseball teams, as well as American Legion baseball. Later in life, he was an all-American softball player, his brother said. “We’re trying to keep his memory alive,” said his brother, Jeff Graham, a former Springfield resident who now lives in Laconia, N.H. The Graham family wants to renovate one of the Riverside ball fields into a baseball/softball field for Cal Ripken League players, typically aged 8 to 12 years old. Andy Bladyka, Springfield’s Parks and Recreation director, said recently that he had been working with the Graham family for about two years on their proposal. He said the plans have not been finalized. Bladyka, on a recent visit to Riverside Park, said the area that is under consideration for renovation is between the Bill Robinson Field and the Springfield varsity baseball field, which was named last year for two longtime coaches, Richie Wyman and Bo Birsky. Bladyka said that the Ben & Jerry’s Homemade Inc. playground, which is more than 20 years old and needs some renovation, might also be moved to accommodate the Graham family project. He said the orientation of the current ball field would likely be changed, so that it could share the light poles in the Robinson Field outfield. He said he would be meeting with the family in early June to work on the plans some more. According to Graham’s brother, a former Springfield accountant, the plans for Graham Field would include lights, but more fundraising needs to occur. The total cost of the plan could run between $65,000 to $100,000, with lighting, new dugouts, a new maintenance shed and an electronic scoreboard. Jeff Graham outlined his family’s plans for the Springfield Select Board last week in order to get their support and approval to name the field in Paige Graham’s memory. Graham had also played sports in Springfield as an adult before he moved to Alabama. Some family members still live in Springfield. Graham’s brother said the family hopes to start work on the field renovations this fall. Kristi Morris, chairman of the Select Board, said he had known Paige Graham for years. “I appreciate your efforts,” he told the Grahams.