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The need for a sports complex in St. Elmo
has its roots buried deep in the past............................
St. Elmo at one time had a baseball team that was feared by just about every other team from Terre Haute, Indiana to St. Louis, Missouri.
In the early 1890's, the local St. Elmo team "took on" a St. Louis team and beat them by the score of 3 to 1, that team went on to be known as the St. Louis Cardinals.
In 1902 a challenge went out from St. Elmo's baseball team to any other team in the area in Southern Illinois who thought they may be able to give the local team "a game".
In the late 1950's and early 1960's, St. Elmo was well known for its softball teams made up mostly of transient oil field workers. In recent days the only ball diamonds available for baseball or softball games has fallen into disrepair due to a lack in school funding, not only in St. Elmo, Illinois but all over the country.
In 1996 and 1997, a group of citizens started talking about the possibility of updating the current facilities or even looking into the possiblity of constructing a brand new facility that could be used not only by the local school but also by any local group who may have the need.
In 1997, the David Belden family approached the city with the notion of donating 18 acres of land to the city with the stipulation that a ball park would be constructed at the site in memory of David's late father, W.L. "Deke" Belden. The opportunity was talked about and the city council came to the conclusion that this was a project and an opportunity that could not be passed up as the proposed location for the complex would be directly across from the local high school.
In 1997, the city with the assitance of Western Illinois University drew up the blue prints for a complex that would include a slow pitch softball diamond, a fast pitch softball diamond, a baseball diamond, a walking/jogging path, picnic pavillions, a childrens play area, two basketball courts, and a concession/restroom facility.
In 1997 the City of St. Elmo applied for and recieved a grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, to help build this "field of dreams". The total cost of the project will be $350,000 and the cost of the project is being split 50/50 between the City of St. Elmo and the Department of Natural Resources.
In early 1998, the city appointed a group of local citizens to see that the project would become a reality. This group of people are not only in charge of the project itself but are also in charge of raising the money necessary as to the city's share. The Deken Sports Park Committee has been working very hard in the construction and fund raising aspects of this project. Many fund raising activities have been completed and many more are planned. If you are someone who might be interested in helping the city build this "field of dreams", please contact the city and we can tell you how.
Walking and
Exercise Path 
Slow Pitch
and Fast Pitch Softball and Baseball Fields
Concession
Stand and Restroom Facilities 
Picnic
Pavillions 
Children's Play Area 
Basketball
Courts Street address
411 North Main
St. Elmo, Illinois 62458
Electronic mail address
[email protected]
Web address
http://marina.fortunecity.com/newland/497/
Office phone
618-829-3319
FAX number
618-829-3332
Please send me mail telling me what you think about this page and how I might improve it.
The cities share of this project is $175,000. This share will be raised by people like yourselves who want to get involved and see that this project is completed. Several fundraising activities have already been completed and several more in the planning stages. There are others ways in which the public can be involved in this project........
Walk Around The Diamond Stones-Any private citizen, business, or organization has the opportunity to purchase a memorial stone that will be placed around the walkway leading to the ball diamonds. There are many options as to what may be inscribed on the stones and of course, the larger the stone, the more options are possible. Some of the options that have already been completed are school classes, families, groups, organizations and churches. The choice is yours as what you would like your stone to say. The stones may be puchased in three different sizes, a14"X28" stone is $1,000, a 12"X22" stone is $800 and a 12"X16" stone can be purchased for $500. If you are interested in purchasing a stone, please contact city hall at the above address.
Twenty Dollar Drive-The twenty dollar drive requires a commitement from you. We are asking that you make a $20 donation to the park and that you in turn ask two more people to make that same commitment and so on down the line.
Cash Donations-Another way in which you can become involved in the effort to raise the needed funds is through a personal donation to the project. You may think that a $10 or even a $1 donation to this project is fruitless but every dime that will be raised for this project is money that will be well spent and help us reach our goal in a timely fashion.