PORT ANGELES — The Lower Elwha Klallam tribe is planning a new athletic facility at 3071 Lower Elwha Road that will provide baseball, softball and soccer fields for use by area residents.
The field is located a block west of the Tribal Center on Lower Elwha Road, 10 miles west of Port Angeles.
The $541,559 complex will be named the Billy Whiteshoes Memorial Park in honor of “Uncle Billy” Whiteshoes, who dedicated many years of his life to supporting tribal youth programs before he died at the age of 69, tribal officials said.
Tribal officials look forward to hosting North Olympic Peninsula-wide youth competitive sports tournaments, Warren Stevens, Lower Elwha Klallam tribe facilities and maintenance director, said Friday.
The design and construction documents have been completed, and the tribe will begin accepting construction bids Wednesday, he said.
It will choose a contractor at the end of the month. Construction is set to begin in early June, Stevens said.
“We are planning on having this project completed by the middle of September,” Warren Stevens, Lower Elwha Klallam tribe facilities and maintenance director, said Friday.
The tribe has received a $250,000 grant from the state Recreation and Conservation Office as well as donations from other contributors for the facility, Stevens said, and is in the process of raising more funds for the project.
After receiving the grant, the tribe “decided to do something for the youth, and not just the tribal youth, but for the city of Port Angeles — the kids that play in the local leagues and all the kids as a whole,” Stevens said.
The new baseball field will have a synthetic turf infield with a natural grass outfield, he said.
Other amenities will include new bathrooms, parking, playground, modified soccer field for youths 10 and under, and a practice field for youth football.
The facility also will accommodate T-ball through softball for youths 16 and under and T-ball through baseball for youths 12 and under.
Planners expect to serve more than 980 youth from the region, with the tribe looking forward to hosting Peninsula-wide youth competitive sports tournaments, Stevens said.
Whiteshoes’ family owned the land where the complex will be built, Stevens said.
“That land was donated to the tribe for youth participation so the community would have a place to practice,” Stevens said.
“He was a caretaker of the field and was very avid in youth sports. He not only attended youth sports but also helped purchase cleats and gloves for the kids when they couldn’t” afford it themselves.
“He was around fastpitch softball his whole life, and during his later years up until he died, he took care of this area that is now going to be the new field.”
Whiteshoes, during his later years, personally did the landscaping at the site to ensure it was always ready for youth to play.
“He was very adamant about mowing the lawn,” Stevens said.
“He wanted to make sure it looked good.”
Those who want to contribute to the project can call Stevens at 360-452-8471 or send an e-mail to Warren.Stevens@Elwha.org.
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Reporter Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56650, or cmcdaniel@peninsuladailynews.com.
