SEASIDE – The effort to rebuild the ball field at Broadway Park has received a boost with a $50,000 grant from the Autzen Foundation.

Thomas Autzen, president of the Autzen Foundation, delivered a check to John Morris, president of Seaside Kids Inc. recently after learning about efforts to modernize the park’s old ball field into a facility for baseball, football and soccer.

But to complete the current phase of the project, which includes lights and a fence, the city of Seaside needs between $600,000 and $700,000.

When plans stalled for lack of money, members of the Seaside Kids organization took up the cause. Those leading the campaign include Seaside Kids representatives Ed Rippet and Jim Auld and Jason Boyd, Seaside School District teacher and athletic director.

“When Tom was a child he used to play with Seaside Kids in the summer. He got in a full season of baseball. He had such a good time that, when he read a story in the newspaper about the effort to raise money for the ball field, he stepped up with a contribution,” Morris said.

“It’s quite an honor to receive this,” Morris added.

Autzen also told Morris that he would contact other friends and ask for donations.

The Autzen Foundation gives grants primarily for youth services, education, the arts and nature. The foundation is named after Thomas J. Autzen, an Oregon businessman known for innovations in plywood manufacturing.

A Broadway Park plan, developed in 2006, calls for renovating the ball field by replacing natural turf with artificial turf and creating a baseball, football and soccer field. An efficient lighting system, a drainage system, revamped parking area, security fencing and a loop around the field that ties it in with the rest of the park are called for in the plan.

Of the $1.6 million needed, $1 million has been raised through local fundraising, a $75,000 contribution from Weyerhaeuser Foundation, a $400,000 interest-free loan from TLC, $500,000 in park system development fees from the city of Seaside and the sale of bricks and tiles for a planned entrance and sign at the front of the park.

Neal Wallace, Seaside parks director and public works director, said the city was “extremely happy” to have the Autzen Foundation grant.

“It’s a nice spark for the fundraising campaign,” he said.