Northern Lights Little League

Content About Northern Lights Little League Northern Lights Little League (NLLL) is a 501c(3) organization based in Thornton Colorado that is formally affiliated with Little League International. NLLL provides recreational community-based baseball and challenger programs to local kids ages four to sixteen in an established and approved geographically area . This area includes portions of Thornton Colorado and Brighton Colorado and NLLL’s home games are played on a well maintained seven field complex in Thornton at 138th and York. All NLLL programs play under the rules and governance of Little League International, which is based in Williamsport Pennsylvania. NLLL is part of Little League's Colorado District 2 that consists of nine other nearby Little League organizations. History of Northern Lights Little League NLLL was formed in 1966 and has been serving our community since then. At that time all the games were played at surrounding schools in the area. (Northglenn Jr. High, Woodglen Elementary, Leroy Drive, Wyco Elementary... just to name a few). As the cities grew so did the need for more fields. In 1965, landowner Walt Stonehocker sold 255 acres of farmland located at 112th and York Street to Northglenn Recreation District which is now known as the City of Northglenn. He sold this to them with one stipulation; that Northern Lights Little League gets 25.25 acres of that land for the development of a nine field baseball complex for the cost of $1 per year for a 40 year period starting on January 1, 1968 and going to January 1, 2008. In 1966, Northern Lights Little League Inc. became its own entity and serviced the children east of I-25, about 50% were Northglenn children and 50% were Thornton children and Northglenn Little League serviced the west side of I-25. Dedicated volunteers worked several hours running raffles and other fundraisers to raise the money to purchase fencing and other materials to develop the complex along with several donations from businesses in the area. This complex relied solely on volunteers for the upkeep of all fields. NLLL did not have access to any water therefore Northern Lights Little League never had grass. All fields were nothing but dirt, weeds and stickers. In 1993 the City of Northglenn felt the need to build a golf course and homes on the 255 acres of undeveloped land. NLLL tried to negotiate a deal for the 25.25 acres of property to be included into the cities plan for development of the property but found themselves being pushed out by the city. After learning that the city of Northglenn had filed condemnation on the property at 112th and York Street, NLLL's Board of Directors, along with our consultants, contacted the City of Thornton, the Colorado Rockies and the McCormick Foundation. Over the next 4 years we built GREAT relationships with the City of Thornton and the Colorado Rockies. NLLL's Board of Directors along with other volunteers worked endless hours to raise money to contribute to the buildin