Rebuild the Field of Cream: Yellowstone Flood '22

The Field of Cream is our local sandlot. But it is so much more than a baseball field. It is a helipad for emergency services, which is critical for public health of this remote mountain town about 1.5 hours away from the nearest hospital. It is an avalanche beacon park for snowmobilers and winter recreators. It is the only athletic facility for 60 miles (and, since the floods destroyed roads through Yellowstone National Park and the Beartooth Pass, it is an hour and a half drive to the closest sports field). And so much more.

 

Located in Cooke City-Silver Gate, Montana, this field was destroyed by the 2022 Yellowstone Flood. Your donation can help rebuild the field as a multi-purpose park, support local businesses by bringing tourism and recreation back to the area, and gather people together around sports and entertainment.

 

So many of us know the power of sport to build community. This ball field can be a galvanizing force to bring positive momentum and growth to an area that was devastated by the catastrophic 500-year flooding of the Greater Yellowstone area. Your contribution can help us to build back better than ever before, to make this field an intentionally designed multi-purpose park that can support local sports, community events, concerts, festivals, emergency services, and so much more.

 

Some examples of how funds will be used:

Bury power lines to improve the use of the field as a helipad for emergency services

Remove significant flooding debris and prepare the land

Protect the field from future flooding events by implementing critical flood mitigation measures

Replace severely damaged fencing and storage shed

Install new spectator stands and floodlights

Build a stage for concerts, plays, and other community events

Create a community fund for maintenance to ensure continued use for years to come

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Media Coverage of Rebuilding Efforts:

Q2 News story on Cooke City asking for help to rebuild beloved softball field after flood 

Montana This Morning Top Stories [Field of Cream story begins at 6:16]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euuA5DkX8KY 

KSVI News story on Cooke City Silver Gate flood recovery efforts 

Luke is a five-year-old boy who splits his time between the home of the Texas A&M Fightin' Aggies (Bryan-College Station, Texas) and the Northeast Gate of Yellowstone (Cooke City-Silver Gate, Montana). His favorite team is the Cincinnati Reds, and when he chased down his first foul ball at a minor-league game cheering on the (then) Reds' farm team, the Billings Mustangs, he fell deeply in love with the game. During the COVID lockdowns in 2020, Luke grew his love of baseball by playing every day at the Field of Cream, the only athletic facility for about 60 miles. And he's not the only one that loves this field.

Please, help this community build back this important place.

 

If sports have ever positively impacted your life, please give.

If you love the outdoors and America's National Parks, please give.

If you are looking for a way to help rebuild Yellowstone's gateway communities, please give.

 

Every little bit helps.

 

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Luke's parents, Joda and Anna Wolfe own a home in Silver Gate, Montana. All funds raised through this fundraiser will be donated to the Cooke City-Silver Gate Community Council, who manages the Field of Cream.

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

Thanks to Meg Simone for drone footage of Cooke City, Silver Gate, and the Field of Cream. Thanks also to Brittany Reyes for providing pictures from community games at the field.