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Waterford woman says historic Freehan Field is almost ready for games this summer
By Jolie Sherman at WXYZ Channel 7 (ABC Detroit) - News
· July 7, 2026
· 3 min read
A Waterford Township woman is weeks away from completing the restoration of a historic softball and baseball field right in her own backyard.Katie Belliotti is restoring Freehan Field, a historic baseball diamond that dates back to 1972, with the goal of bringing more travel softball opportunitie...
Key takeaway Katie Belliotti is restoring Freehan Field, a historic baseball diamond that dates back to 1972, with the goal of bringing more travel softball opportunities to Waterford.
Why this matters in The Detroit
The restoration of Freehan Field is a significant development for Waterford's sports community, particularly for young athletes involved in travel softball. With the field's expected completion this summer, local teams like the Lady Outlaws will have a dedicated venue to practice and compete, potentially drawing more tournaments and games to the area. This, in turn, could have a positive impact on local businesses, such as hotels, restaurants, and sports equipment stores, that cater to visiting teams and their families. The community-wide effort to restore the field, with support from local business owners like Mark Malvich, also highlights the importance of public-private partnerships in revitalizing community assets. As the field nears completion, it will be worth watching how it is utilized and maintained, and whether it can serve as a model for similar restoration projects in other parts of Detroit .
About this story
Original reporting by WXYZ Channel 7 (ABC Detroit) - News . The Detroit surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit WXYZ Channel 7 (ABC Detroit) - News . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: July 7, 2026 ·
Source: WXYZ Channel 7 (ABC Detroit) - News ·
Reading time: 3 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? A Waterford Township woman is weeks away from completing the restoration of a historic softball and baseball field right in her own backyard.Katie Belliotti is restoring Freehan Field, a historic baseball diamond that dates back to 1972, with the goal of bringing more travel softball opportunitie...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 7, 2026 by WXYZ Channel 7 (ABC Detroit) - News and curated for The Detroit readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Jolie Sherman at WXYZ Channel 7 (ABC Detroit) - News. To learn more about how The Detroit selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
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