A nasty wind whipping from south to north made being outside miserable.

But it didn’t take away from the beauty of Pam Wittrock’s surroundings.

“Mom would have been proud,” she proclaimed.

Pam was sitting on the bleachers behind home plate of Field 1 of the softball complex at Briscoe Park on the southwest edge of Kingfisher.

The scenery she was taking in was a stark contrast to the very same location nearly 2 1/2 years ago when a project to revamp the fields used by the Kingfisher Girls Softball Association kicked into high gear.

The major retooling was a vision of many, chief among them being Pam’s son, Brad Wittrock.

He - and the other members of the KGSA board at the time - knew major improvements were needed for the facilities that were the starting grounds each year for dozens and dozens of softball players.

But it couldn’t be done alone and it couldn’t be done cheaply.

That’s where “Mom” stepped in and stepped up.

Carlene Gooden - Pam’s mother and Brad’s grandmother - donated $65,000 to get the project started.

“We met with the city and they agreed to match it,” Brad said.

The work began in late 2023.

In January 2024, Carlene and Brad and Pam posed for photos at the ballpark with other members of the KGSA board of directors, city officials and those helping with the project.

The photos detailed the changes that had already taken place and the many more yet to come.

Carlene Gooden never got to see the finished project.

She passed away on April 22, 2024.

However, she laid the groundwork that would make softball a more enjoyable experience for hundreds of young girls for years to come.

That was the idea, said Brad, back when the improvements were beginning.

“We want this to be a great facility for everyone,” he said in 2024.

It’s also helps push the KGSA’s mission statement: “The KGSA is dedicated to providing organized softball while cultivating a love for the game and building confidence in our female athletes. Through proper guidance, we will develop teamwork, sportsmanship and a knowledge of the game while maintaining a positive, but fun and competitive atmosphere. The KGSA will strive to make a lasting impact in the community of Kingfisher and all the girls involved.”

Improvements include:

• New backstop with concrete base poured by MMS Construction, padded bumpers and new netting;

• The backstop was angled more which allowed for more visibility for spectators seated near the dugouts, which also have better visibility of the entire field;

• New dugouts with the concrete blocks laid by Danny Nealis;

• New benches in the dugouts built by Tanner Mueggenborg;

• New fencing around the field and awning covering the area behind the backstop by Top-Shelf Fencing;

• New bullpen areas;

• Storage buildings donated by Ovintiv;

• Expanded concrete area from dugout to dugout behind the backstop poured by Shawn Scammahorn and MMS. That area was also raised for better visibility;

• Light poles installed by Cimarron Electric;

• Lighting wired by Kingfi sher Electric;

• Electric work performed by Darby Brooks with ShortStop Electric;

• A new sprinkler system installed by Morrison Lawn Services;

• Improved outfield and infield surfaces.

As noted, some of the work was done by local businesses and much of the rest by those involved with the KGSA.

Serving on the KGSA board currently are Kena Martin, president; Darby Brooks, vice president; Jalene Jackson, treasurer; and Brad Wittrock, secretary.

Like his mom just minutes before, Brad surveyed the area that’s now known as George and Carlene Gooden Field.

He noted the work that had been put into the complex - not just on and around the field - but behind the scenes as well.

“It obviously looks a lot better than before,” he said. “I certainly appreciate all the hard work everyone put into this.”