Last Saturday Vashon Park District officials, park board commissioners, construction committee members and Island athletics supporters gathered by The Harbor School to kick off the construction of the Vashon Athletic Fields with a groundbreaking ceremony. 

Addressing the crowd, Commissioner David Hackett said he remembers when the much-needed fields were conceived eight years ago, adding that he was thrilled to see construction of the project finally begin.

“We’ve gone through quite a bit to get to this day, to put the golden shovel in the ground,” Hackett said. “One day we’ll be out here and see kids playing soccer and baseball and ultimate Frisbee and maybe some sports that haven’t been invented yet.”

After months of site preparation, construction of the fields will begin this week. Project Manager Tom Ossinger said the first baseball field may be ready for use by the summer of 2012, depending on the growth of the grass. He added that he’s feeling good about the project as it begins.

“We have a top notch team all the way,” he said. “That makes it easy.”

Photo: From left, park district Executive Director Wendy Braicks, Commissioner Michael DeBlasi,Commissioner Joe Wald, Hackett, Ossinger and Site Superintendent Matt Mattingley begin to dig.