"the People's Paths!" Cherokee News Path - Jay Community Comes Together to Build Ballpark

JAY, Oklahoma - The community of Jay recently dedicated a new state-of-the-art little league softball and baseball quadraplex that was built by community members working together and a little help from Cherokee Nation.

“It was amazing to see how the community came together to build such a wonderful park,” said Melani Graham, president of the Jay Summer Sports Association.

Several members of the community joined forces as volunteers providing labor, business leaders providing equipment and community partners providing funds.

Since 2004, the association has received more than $160,000 in funding through the Cherokee Nation’s Community Work Project grant and Cherokee Nation Compassion Capital fund, but the funding they received from these sources was not the only thing that made this park a reality. The association estimates non-cash contributions to be in the ballpark of $300,000, which came through multiple avenues.

This Jay non-profit organization started clearing the 9-acre tract of land in 2004. They completed the clearing and leveling in early 2005. Since then, volunteers and business leaders have provided labor and equipment to install a sprinkler system, haul dirt and build fencing, dugouts and backstops and a 40 feet by 40 feet multi-purpose building. Through the community’s commitment the park was completed in 2009.

The purpose of the Cherokee Nation Community Work Projects is to provide small amounts of funding to assist community-based organization within the Cherokee Nation jurisdiction to organize around projects that have broad community support. These projects are self-help focused and aimed at improving the community.