As Falmouth Little League celebrates its opening day this Saturday, the baseball and softball nonprofit looks to capitalize on the community’s excitement. In an effort to replace the town’s beloved Snack Shack, the organization has launched a fundraising campaign. 

The cinderblock structure on Legion Field has fed families since 1965 and served as a locus for community, said Falmouth residents and leaders who are working on getting the building replaced. As the gray structure is deteriorating and outdated, Falmouth Little League and supporters hope to raise $250,000 by the end of July so a new Snack Shack can be built in the fall. The current building will be torn down. 

The proposed new building will be more spacious and have two ADA-compliant bathrooms, a modern kitchen, storage and covered grilling space. The project reflects a broader investment in youth sports and community building in Falmouth, said organizers. Over 450 children participate in Falmouth Little League annually. 

“This is more than a building,” wrote Anthony DeRice, board president of Falmouth Little League in a statement. “It’s about creating a welcoming, functional space that brings our community together and enhances the experience for everyone who comes to the fields.”

The campaign already raised $10,000 in cash as well as over $10,000 in materials and labor from local businesses. If the necessary funds are raised, the new building would be complete by summer 2027. 

“We’re hoping it’s our last season in this little shack,” said Crystal Sweeney, Falmouth Little Leagues’ director of concessions. 

Falmouth community members started working on replacing the Snack Shack two years ago, with Little League organizers, residents and Town Council members coming together to make up Falmouth Community Events. This new organization will not only support the Snack Shack project but other initiatives for the town, such as building more bathrooms in town recreation areas and helping other organizations use the Snack Shack for events. 

“We’re hoping it becomes a place that is a hub for community gatherings, not just for Little League, but greater events that could help bring community together … which would be a great investment for our town,” said Sweeney. 

The Town Council has also contributed to the new Snack Shack initiative, which had faced some bureaucratic hurdles. The council forwarded development of the town entering a long-term ground lease with Falmouth Little League as well as an ordinance amendment that would allow the for the building’s construction town-owned property in Legion Field’s zoning district.