Three Rivers-based R&R Aluminum Trailers presented a gift of $40,000 to the River Country Sports Commission (RCSC) on Wednesday. The gift pays for construction work on the main football field at the Armstrong Youth Sports Complex. R&R owner Rick Daniels, along with co-owner Bob Brewer and several family members and associates, made the presentation to RCSC members in a ceremony at the complex on Wednesday afternoon.
Daniels said he initially did not support the location, but said, “after you see what they’ve done here, how can you be opposed to it?” Daniels said he is proud to participate with R&R’s name on the project. “You want to leave something better than you had it,” he said. “It’s just a great facility. We’re glad to have the opportunity to help.”
R&R is located just off Heimbach Road immediately north of Three Rivers. “Bob and I were best friends in seventh grade,” Daniels said. Both were working in other jobs when they decided to start the company. “I needed somebody who could build, and Bob could, he still can, he can build anything.” The company has been in business for 26 years. “Bob and I are local boys, and our boys are local, and our goal is to leave a mark,” Daniels said. “Bob and I could have started this business anywhere, but (we) chose to start a new business where our home was.”
RCSC member Jared Hoffmaster has been a longtime advocate and driver for the development of the complex, since his days as a Three Rivers City Commissioner. “We appreciate the generosity of the guys at R&R Trailers,” he said. “We’re continuing to try to partner with businesses and community members.”
Many other Three Rivers area businesses and manufacturers have sponsored various parts of the complex. “We’re working on a few other big ones as well, so hopefully we’ll have some other announcements coming out pretty soon, too.” Hoffmaster said.
R&R is sponsoring the F-1 football field, which is the complex’s main competition field. Designated F-1, is one of three planned football fields for the complex and will feature a scoreboard and other amenities. There are also planned soccer, baseball, softball, and other facilities.
“We’re pretty much done with major construction. Now we’re just trying to get the common areas to grow, kind of finishing up Phase One. I’m trying to get the pavement all the way out to Buckhorn Road, so there’s still some loose ends we’re trying to tie up with Phase One, but for the most part major construction has finished,” Hoffmaster said.
The complex belongs to the City of Three Rivers, and is managed by RCSC, which is a nonprofit organization that helps to raise funds for continued construction and growth. The park is open from dawn to dusk, and includes smaller public-use amenities, either built already or planned for construction in future phases. Pickleball courts have proven popular according to project supporters, and a recreational path is planned. Competitive sports leagues can pay fees to conduct games and tournaments on the fields there, which are also available for local use by reservation.
Dave Vago is a writer and columnist for Watershed Voice. A Philadelphia native with roots in Three Rivers, Vago is a planning consultant to history and community development organizations and is the former Executive Director of the Three Rivers DDA/Main Street program.
