On Monday afternoon, the Marra brothers — from the left are John, Jim, Tom, Bob and Jerry — flank either side of the sign that welcomes visitors to Fireman’s Field, a new artificially surfaced baseball field in Lakewood, that was built in memory of their parents, Ralph and Fran. P-J photos by Scott Kindberg

LAKEWOOD — Every Fourth of July, Southwestern Central School baseball alumni — past and present — get together for a pickup game.

For years, the contest, which has featured players from their mid-teens to their mid-70s, was played at Packard Field in Lakewood.

Today the venue will change.

And while the distance from the old venue to the new is only a short drive, the artificially surfaced Fireman’s Field is a significant upgrade that left a few grown men a bit misty eyed Monday afternoon at its official dedication.

“When you think about this field,” said Bill Burk, who has been working on the project for the better part of five years, “I’d like us to think about fathers and sons, mothers and sons and mothers and daughters. … I’m just so proud of this field.”

Tom Marra

So, too, is the Marra family.

Brothers Jerry, Bob, Tom, John and Jim were all there as were nearly 30 other members of the Marra clan. It’s tradition for all of them to have a reunion centered around the Fourth of July each year. This visit to their native Lakewood had a little extra meaning this time, though, because the field, which the Marras philanthropy helped make possible, was built in memory of their parents, Ralph and Fran.

“We’re just thrilled mom and dad are getting recognized,” Tom Marra said. “They were wonderful people and they loved Lakewood with everything they had. We were just so lucky to grow up here and be part of Southwestern (Central School). To be able to come back to events like this, we feel very blessed to be part of the best village in the United States.”

Burk and Tom Marra were just two of several community members and Southwestern Area Sports officials to speak on a Chamber-of-Commerce afternoon. Others to take the microphone were longtime coach George Barone, Lakewood mayor Cara Birrittieri, Jack Knowlton of the Lakewood Fire Department and Troy Bouckhuyt, a SWAS vice president.

“We’re standing on the shoulders of giants today,” Burk said, “and those giants built fields in this area.”

Bill Burk

Two of those “giants” were Burk’s parents, Bill and Barb.

“They built (LaGrega Field) from a pile of dirt and those are the people I want to thank,” Burk said. “I want this to be a legacy field. I want it to be a stepping stone to the future and (for) our sons and daughters to take it to the next generation.”

The next generation has already taken advantage of the facility as SWAS teams have practiced on it.

“The first time we were out here, I had goose bumps,” said Bouckhuyt, who coaches his 10-year-old son’s team. “To come out here and play, it’s awesome. It’s going to be good for area baseball. Kids can get out earlier (in the year) and stay playing baseball later, so I hope we’ll develop better baseball players.”

Bouckhuyt added that Firemen’s Field is not only for members of the Lakewood-Busti community, but also for the greater Jamestown area.

George Barone

“This time of year we give preference to (SWAS) Babe Ruth teams and then we’ll backfill everything else.”

To reserve time on the field, interested parties can email Bouckhuyt at bouckhuyt@gmail.com.

“I’ve got some ideas to try and run tournaments in the fall and early spring,” he said.

More immediately, a game was scheduled for last night. Today, the Southwestern alumni game will be held.

The Marra brothers will be there, of course.

Jack Knowlton

“I played in an over-50 league a few years ago, but this will be my first outing this year,” Tom Marra said. “Hitting will be fine. Throwing and the rest of it? We don’t know about that.”

What we do know for certain is that after yesterday’s dedication Lakewood has its own “Field of Dreams.”

“It’s fabulous,” Tom Marra said.

Jack Carpenter