DERRY — Little League officials have decided not to begin its town field improvement project this year.
Citing a lack of funding, officials told the School Board last week that 2012 was not the time to start.
"It's not feasible to move ahead this year," said Steve Heffelfinger, a member of the Little League board of directors.
With hundreds of ball players taking to town fields in any given season, a Derry Little League field improvement project would add some needed space.
The plan includes adding another baseball diamond at Buckley Field near Gilbert H. Hood Middle School and other upgrades to fields used by both town and school groups.
The estimated cost of the project is between $200,000 and $250,000.
Derry's Little League has about $50,000 raised so far to support the project.
Heffelfinger said more fundraising would take place and other funding options would be explored, including grants and other financial outlets. That could include going before the town to ask for support.
With more than 400 Little League players on 33 teams, the need for additional field space is great.
"We currently use six fields for play, and the most occupied is Buckley behind Hood School," Little League official Steve Tritto said last summer as the project got underway.
The field plan is also good for the community, Tritto said.
"The project would be a benefit for the town of Derry, Derry School District, and all the other local leagues that use the field area," he said.
Little League has raised money for field improvements for several years. Some of that money was used to update existing fields and to jump-start the Hood field project.
Little League has worked with the town recreation department and school district to plan the Hood field improvements.
Heffelfinger said bids would once again go out in early 2013.
"We'll have our money lined up at that point," he said.
To learn more about the Derry Little League field improvement project, visit derryll.org.
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