Construction of the historic Gardner Park Grandstand was announced by Mayor Winston Prouty in May of 1939. The Grandstand was built through the efforts of the Works Progress Administration which brought employment to the area during the depression. The Newport facility is reminiscent of Montpelier’s recreation field. Notable players such as Satchel Paige, Carlton “Pudge” Fisk, and Robin Roberts have played on the grounds. Citizens from around the Northeast Kingdom community have formed a Gardner Park Grandstand Committee to fully restore the grandstand to its former glory, and make it ADA compliant, after it was recently closed and slated for demolition. The group has received a congressionally directed spending award of $500,000 from Senator Welch. Funding from the Freeman Foundation, combined with local contributions would complete the funding stack for this project, allowing construction to begin next summer.