Undefeated North Franklin County Little League Champs, the Avon Valley Rats, show off the new sign for their ball field. They are (left to right, back) Cody Ladd, Austin Hinkley, Shaine White, Damien Cochran, Calum Dixon, Sean Allen, (front) Noah White, Sam Storer, Austin Ladd and Sabrina Bachelder. Absent from photo were Bryce Werzanski, Matt Kelley and Nick Parsons. (Paula Roy photo) AVON — The Walli Ballfield/Rollins Playground at the end of the Avon Valley Road was recently the site of a grand celebration. There were two big reasons for the event: the completion of a park renovation project started in 2005 and the Avon Valley Rats Little League Team's undefeated season, including the North Franklin League Championship.

The 2009 Avon Valley Rats, coached by Christy White, Scott Ladd and Andrew Hinkley, is the first Avon Little League team ever, as far as anyone can find out, that has gone undefeated, and the first to win a league championship in the last decade. Their success earned the team a trip to a Portland Sea Dogs game.

The ball field after renovations. (Paula Roy photo) The Open House held at the park on Saturday included a picnic with hot dogs and burgers custom-grilled by BBQ chefs extraordinaire Tom Saviello and Jerry Gilchrist. Visitors enjoyed their lunches under the new pavilion, while the Valley Rats and their parents provided dining entertainment with their antics on the diamond.

According to Avon's First Selectman Bob Ellis, Jerry Gilchrist has been "the driving force" of the renovation project. Gilchrist himself tells the tale of how it was in 2005 that it became apparent to the people of Avon that the Walli Ballpark (Home of the Avon Little League's "Valley Rats") and the Rollins Playground had been neglected to the point where the facility was in shambles. The infield was rutted and washed up. The fencing was dilapidated. The team benches, home and visitors, as well as the spectator benches, were decayed to the point of being unsafe to sit on and becoming tangled in brambles. The grounds were overgrown with tall grass; bushes were growing on and around the field and amongst the tattered fencing, as well as along Valley Road itself.

"The property was a real mess," Gilchrist declared.

In addition to the state of the property being an embarrassment for the team and the town, it was also a concern of the owners who had leased the property to Avon since 1991 for use by the little league and all the community's families.

The time had come to correct the situation.

Since 2005, thanks to the hard work of many generous Avon residents and their donations of time, labor, money and equipment, gradual improvements began to take place.

First, Gilchrist stated, "It's very important to note that this would not have been possible without the gracious gift (in 2007) to the town from Bruce and Doris Spencer of the property. This gift was based on our town fixing the facility up and continually maintaining it."

The town has responded by keeping the property mowed and picked-up throughout the summer seasons and improvements have continued to take place. Many people and businesses raised money through fundraising projects and donations - -too many to name here; check out the list posted at the town office and in local businesses.

To finish up the project this year, new metal safety fencing was placed down both sides of the infield. A new sign was created by Signworks of Farmington. Wooden fencing along the road front, the benches, tables and the pavilion all received new coats of paint. Steve Mitchell and his students from the Maine School of Masonry donated skills, time and materials to brick up a combination flower box and sign holder, which boasts the Walli Ballfield/Rollins Playground sign.

"I think you'll agree we have something to be proud of for our kids, families and also visiting teams and their entourages," Gilchrist declared, "This is truly a great outcome for the town and shows how much community spirit there is in Avon for all this to come together the way it has. It certainly makes us proud to be part of Avon…"

He, and everyone involved in the project, invite one and all to take a look around the park/playground and see for themselves just what they're talking about.