By MOLLY DAVIDSON / Staff Writer

HELENA—The Helena Huskies will kick off the youth football season on a brand new field. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held at the field in the Helena Sports Complex on Aug. 9.

Youth football players and cheerleaders participated in the ceremony, holding the ribbon for Helena Mayor Mark Hall to cut.

“We’re tremendously grateful for the community’s support,” Hall said to those gathered at the field.

The city financed the field by refinancing a bond issue on the Community Center, which produced the needed $180,000, Hall explained.

“We knew this was a much needed addition to our parks system,” Hall said. “The bond issue specified it had to be used for a park project.”

The new field is a welcome improvement to the Helena Huskies youth football program, Hall said, noting the importance of preparing players for the high school level now that Helena has it’s own high school.

“Ten years ago, we were practicing on the (outfield),” Hall said. Now the youth football teams will have their own field for practices and games.

The field is about two weeks away from completion, as the field still needs striping and some paving work remains to be completed, but Hall said “we’re ready to play ball.”

“It’s for the kids, and it’s going to be instrumental for the community,” Hall said. “These are good days in Helena.”