Roughly 10 years ago, a group of parents associated with the Stafford Soccer Club built the wall at Pratt Park.  The wall was never finished, but certainly has provided rebounds for tens of thousands of driven soccer balls over the years.

On Sunday, November 23rd, 2008, a small volunteer crew descended upon Pratt Park in an effort to stain, shore up and finish the Pratt wall.  The team arrived in subfreezing temperatures and finished the process of trimming and capping the wall’s support beams.  Another team worked on inserting stainless screws into the wall to help keep the balls rebounding.  As the temperature warmed, a team of parents and young players began staining the wall.  About 4 hours and 11 gallons of stain later, the wall was finished (until next time!).

Helping out on the project were Tim Conklin and the Stafford Spirit with the donation of materials, Bill Myers and the Travel Division with the purchase and delivery of the stain, Rick Thoroughgood with a generator, Toby Brown with an ebay supply of paint pads and tools and Marty "Power Tools" Mendoza with the ultimate power tool collection.  Stainers included Eileen and Patrick Edwards, Kathy, Taylor and Toby Brown, Reb Benson, Jake Mendoza, Rick Thoroughgood and Gary Scholl.  Drillers and screwdrivers included Marty Mendoza and Rick Thoroughgood.  Marty and Toby cut the posts.  Jennifer Lupi prepared a fabulous lunch for all!

Some pictures follow.

Above: Marty Mendoza cutting a post with one of his dependable power tools!
 
Above: Reb Benson, Gary Scholl, Eileen Edwards and Patrick Edwards apply the stain to the front of the wall.

Above:  Another shot of the trusty stainers with Toby brown sealing the top of the wall.

Above: Youngest team member Jake Mendoza was a jack of all trades!

The team at the end: Rick T., Reb, Toby, Jake and Marty M and Gary S.  Photos by Kathy Brown.