After the little league dugouts were vandalized with spray paint in April, Ypsilanti National Little League is hosting a painting day to restore this community space.
The Ypsilanti National Little League program consists of 158 local kids and works to promote accessibility, teamwork, respect and sportsmanship.
Peter J. McGovern, the first president of Little League Baseball, Incorporated, wrote the official Little League Pledge in 1954, and each YNLL player and parent to this day recite their respective pledges. The player pledge states: “I trust in God. I love my country and will respect its laws. I will play fair and strive to win, but win or lose, I will always do my best.” The parent pledge states: “I will teach all children to play fair and do their best. I will positively support all managers, coaches and players. I will respect the decisions of the umpires. I will praise a good effort despite the outcome of the game.”
These values were reflected in the first painting event YNLL hosted on Sunday, June 7, 2026.
With donations from Anderson Paint and ACE Hardware, the league was able to repaint two of the six dugouts.
Parents and volunteers from the little league were thrilled to see their community come together to help them. YNLL vice president, Jennifer Colby, told The Echo, “I had no idea how much of a turnout we would get. It was almost overwhelming.”
Just days before little league’s opening day, a local painter and former little leaguer donated his talents to cover the graffiti.
“Now we’re just trying to make it look all the same where the blues are not mismatched. We needed it updated, and we needed fresh paint anyway. It’s kind of a blessing in disguise,” Colby said.
YNLL runs completely on donations and sponsorships, Colby said. Although Anderson Paint donated a generous amount, the league fears there will not be enough paint to cover the remaining four dugouts for the upcoming paint day. Colby encouraged community members to donate to the organization through the YNLL website.
Any community volunteers willing to pitch in are welcome to come on Sunday, June 14, 2026 from 12-3 p.m. at 66 S. Harris Road, Ypsilanti. YNLL encourages volunteers to bring paint brushes and rollers as well as step ladders to help. Hosts at the event are available to sign off on community service hours if requested.
