St. Clair Little League & Legacy Park
The Next 75
Seventy-five years of St. Clair kids. Help us build the park for the next seventy-five.
Great fields. Let's build on them.
We are the biggest youth organization in the area, and our kids already play on top-level fields. After 15 years at our current location, three upgrades would bring the whole park up to that same standard.
More playing days
Rain costs us games and practices in a short Michigan spring. Turf infields would keep more kids on the field.
A better way in
Every family arrives on a driveway of gravel and crushed asphalt. Paving it gives St. Clair a first impression as good as our fields.
A winter home
When snow comes, our baseball, softball, football, and cheer programs pause. A field house keeps every one of them training all year.
The kids this is for
In 2026, our softball team brought home the Michigan Little League State Championship. Nearly 500 more kids take our fields every season. This plan builds on the great fields they already have, with more ways to use them all year.
Our tournaments bring teams, families, and dollars to St. Clair
St. Clair Little League is more than a place for local kids to play. Every year we draw teams and families from across the county and beyond to spend time, and money, in our community.
- Shine On Softball Tournament and the Derek Kaufman Memorial Wood Bat Tournament, every year, each with more than 60 teams.
- Multi-district tournaments every year that bring teams from across St. Clair County into St. Clair.
- State tournaments in 4 of the last 6 years, with a real opportunity to host Midwest and Great Lakes regionals next.
An estimated $120,000 to $260,000 a year in outside spending
That is new money from teams and families who live outside our area and spend it here, at hotels, restaurants, gas stations, and stores.
| Tournament | Outside teams | Families | Est. spending |
|---|---|---|---|
| Derek Kaufman Memorial Wood Bat | 36–42 | 432–504 | $67K–$141K |
| Shine On Softball | 30–35 | 360–420 | $56K–$118K |
| Together | 66–77 | 792–924 | $123K–$259K |
How we estimated it
- Low end uses 60 teams per tournament. High end uses 70, which is what we have in most years.
- Only teams from outside the area count: 60% for wood bat, 50% for Shine On.
- 12 players per team and one family per player.
- 30% to 40% of outside families stay overnight, spending about $400 to $550 on lodging, food, and gas. The rest come for the day and spend about $50 to $100.
- Not counted: local teams, extra spectators, volunteers, and our multi-district and state tournaments.
Try the numbers yourself
Move the sliders to see what our two big tournaments could bring in under different assumptions.
0 outside families, from 0 outside teams
Wood bat: $0 · Shine On: $0
One family per player. Local teams, extra spectators, and our multi-district and state tournaments are not counted. The starting settings are the middle of our estimate.
What the research says
- Sports tourism is a $274.5 billion U.S. industry. The 2026 Sports ETA report counts 339 million sports travelers and 124.3 million hotel room nights, with youth and amateur events driving $60.1 billion in direct spending. Sports ETA
- West Michigan youth and amateur events generated about $90.8 million in 2024 across 112 events, with nearly 50,000 hotel room nights. West Michigan Sports Commission
- At Traverse City youth tournaments, out-of-town families spent about $985 each (2012 study). That is a resort destination, so we use a much lower figure for St. Clair, where many visitors drive in for the day. Avenue ISR
Where these numbers come from
- Our tournaments: team counts, how many teams come from outside the area, and roster sizes come from St. Clair Little League's own tournament records, kept by our tournament director.
- National industry: Sports ETA, 2026 State of the Industry report (Sports Events and Tourism Association).
- West Michigan: West Michigan Sports Commission, 2024 economic impact results, as reported by Corp! Magazine.
- Family spending: Avenue ISR study for the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce, 2012, as reported by Sports Destination Management. Used only as a high-end comparison.
- Overnight and day-trip spending: our own estimate. We assume 30% to 40% of outside families stay overnight, based on our experience running these events. We have not yet surveyed visiting teams.
Three phases, one park
We start with the way in, then the fields, then a year-round home. Every figure here is an early estimate and will be refined as contractor bids come in.
Pave the park
Paving and striping the driveway, all parking, and park roads: about 341,800 sq ft. It makes arrival smoother, safer, and more accessible for hundreds of families. It can be built in two stages, with the front driveway and main lot (about 174,700 sq ft, $725,000 to $1,390,000) first.
See the line items
| Item | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Site prep and grading | $255,000 | $515,000 |
| Aggregate base | $340,000 | $685,000 |
| Hot-mix asphalt | $600,000 | $1,025,000 |
| Striping and safety markings | $50,000 | $105,000 |
| Stormwater drainage | $135,000 | $310,000 |
| Engineering and permits | $40,000 | $80,000 |
| Total | $1,420,000 | $2,720,000 |
Turf the infields
Synthetic turf on Fields 5, 3, and 2 means games get played in the rain and the fields are ready every night. Priced at $18 per sq ft installed. Field 5, our busiest diamond, comes first.
| Field | Size | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Field 5 (first goal) | 13,500 sq ft | $243,000 |
| Field 3 | 10,500 sq ft | $189,000 |
| Field 2 | 10,000 sq ft | $180,000 |
| All three fields | 34,000 sq ft | $612,000 |
The multi-sport field house
A year-round indoor home for baseball, softball, football, and cheer, so practice never stops when the Michigan winter arrives. About 19,200 sq ft (120 ft by 160 ft) with a full indoor turf field, batting cages, restrooms, a heated parent lounge, storage, and an entry vestibule.
A park the whole community builds together
Little League is the anchor, but this park belongs to everyone who uses it. We want the City of St. Clair, neighboring townships, and local families at the table from day one.
Tap a project to see what it is and what it costs
Concept only, not to scale. Costs are early estimates. Turf for Fields 5, 3, and 2 ($612,000) is also part of the plan.
The full park, project by project
| Project | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Paving: the whole park | $1,420,000 | $2,720,000 |
| Turf: Fields 5, 3 and 2 | $612,000 | $612,000 |
| Field house (19,200 sq ft) | $2,200,000 | $3,200,000 |
| Pickleball courts | $175,000 | $275,000 |
| One-mile loop path | $250,000 | $500,000 |
| Two football and soccer fields | $400,000 | $800,000 |
| The full park | $5,057,000 | $8,107,000 |
Early planning estimates, not bids. Final numbers come from contractor quotes.
Michigan DNR recreation grants can award up to $150,000 to $500,000 per project, with a 25% to 50% local match. Local governments apply, so a city or township partner lets private gifts unlock state money.
Who we want at the table
- City of St. Clair and neighboring townships: shared recreation for every family, and the partner who can apply for public funding.
- County, schools, and other leagues: football, cheer, soccer, and pickleball players.
- Businesses, families, and foundations: naming gifts and in-kind support.
Make your mark on the next 75 years
Each project can carry a partner's name for years to come. We are happy to talk through the right fit.
Naming includes signage at the field or facility, recognition on our website, and a long-term placement of about 25 years. Multi-year pledges are welcome. Details are confirmed with each partner.
Every gift is tied to a real project
This is a building campaign. Gifts go to the park and facility projects in this plan, and you can choose the one you want to support.
Shares use the middle of each project's estimate range, within the three-phase plan. Early estimates, not bids.
You choose
Name the field, the lot, or the field house you want to support, or tell us your own idea.
Volunteer-run
St. Clair Little League is an all-volunteer nonprofit. Tax ID 38-6090373.
We report back
This page shows progress toward the goal, and every donor is thanked here by name, if they wish.
The families and businesses building the next 75
Every partner who gives is thanked here, with their name or business, unless they prefer to stay anonymous.
Tell us what you'd like to support
A pledge is a promise, not a payment. No money is collected on this page. Fill this in and we'll give you a summary to send to Matt or Leo, who will follow up to finish the details.
Build the next 75 years with us
- Choose a naming opportunity or tell us your own idea.
- Call or email Matt or Leo. We will walk you through it.
- Give by check, by pledge over several years, or in kind. Goods and services count, and are recognized at the same value as a cash gift. We take donations 24/7, 365.
(810) 650-8181
mkaras32@gmail.com
(810) 300-2630
leocolantuono@gmail.com
Mail a check
St. Clair Little League
300 Fairway Crt
St. Clair, MI 48079
St. Clair Little League is a nonprofit. Tax ID 38-6090373. League ID 1220719.