December 17, 2007
Monday AM

I lived on the Prince of Wales Island for many years. I can say that Coffman Cove has had a grass field for many, many years. I believe it was originally completed when Howard Valentine Logging Camp was still in operation. To the best of my knowledge the field was built by locals and volunteers from the community helped maintain it for years.

The field there is now used as a place of gathering for community activities such as Easter Egg Hunts, 4th of July Community Potlucks and various activities relating to the 4th of July, and of course fireworks are observed from the nice green grass while the locals sit and watch the display with their families and friends.

There are many days during the year where the local community members can be observed running through the field with their children and having picnics. The school is next door to the ballfield and is able to utilize it for activities. The best part is that the community as a whole still assist in keeping it clean, although the City of Coffman Cove now has a groundskeeper to do some of the work.

If I remember right, it was cheaper to make sure the field was insured than to insure the new outdoor basketball court they build in 2003. The ballfield in Coffman Cove is fairly cheap to maintain and is a huge asset to a community like Coffman Cove with little else for the children, teens, young adults, and families who reside there to do.

The City of Craig and the City of Thorne Bay also have outdoor, grassy ballfields. Thorne Bay utilized their field for the Prince of Wales Logging Fair.

Jennifer Bunch
Ketchikan, AK

About: " Former Coffman Cove City Clerk, Ketchikan resident for 5 years"

Received December 14, 2007 - Published December 17, 2007

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