The historic Willimantic Fairgrounds closed down in 1913 ending the 30 year run of the historic Willimantic Fair, a local institution that brought crowds and a great deal of trade to the city. But a new tradition was underway. On May 15,1914, General  F.E. Kaley, one of three members of ATC0's executive committee, arrived in Willimantic  from New York City to officiate at the opening of the third season of the  American Thread Mill League.  Kaley said that ATCO was going to do a lot toward developing the fairgrounds into a park for the young people and children of the city. He then announced that construction would shortly begin on the Recreation Grounds, formerly the Fairgrounds, of a 500-seat grandstand, along with changing room facilities, showers and baths for the baseball players, a “house of comfort” for women and girls and an ice skating rink. The grandstand was to be placed so that people could watch baseball games on either of the two diamonds. The new park was to be landscaped the following year and provisions for a playground solely for children would be made. Kaley told a reporter that ATCO was not a soulless corporation and wanted to do everything for people in its employ.  “By providing baseball facilities in the summer and skating in the winter for- the young men and women of the city, and playgrounds for the children, the company feels that it will make good, healthy, clean citizens.”  Now, as the time for the opening ceremonies approached, the teams assembled outside the Hotel Hooker, and a parade and twenty car motorcade procession started down Main Street, headed for the fairgrounds. The Willimantic  American Band led the way, followed by the Mill 6 team captained by Ernest Melody, Mill 3  team captained by Joe Hammel, Dye House beam captained  by Timothy McGillicuddy, and  various junior teams, eight in all. The leading ATCO officials, league officials, and local politicians including Mayor Dunn and members of the Board of Aldermen in automobiles followed the marchers.  The teams arrived at the grounds and commenced practice. A large crowd watched as General Kaley threw the first ball to Mayor Daniel Dunn. The Chronicle reported that the new diamond would be “officially opened by General Kaley, who will make a few remarks, and will then take his place on the pitcher’s mound and hurl the first ball over the plate. Mayor Dunn will be on the receiving end of the delivery and there will be some class to the launching of the mill league”. At the opening ceremony, Kaley did pitch to Dunn  who was wearing a catcher’s mask and glove. Kaley then pitched the first ball for the first game between Mills 5 and 6 at 2 p.m.  Mill 6 had won the pennant in 1913. The second game was between Mill 3 and the “Dyers,” who had won the first pennant in 1912. Mill 3 had added “Lefty” Smith to its roster.  Smith had played two seasons for Baltimore in the majors.  The Dyers had signed Art Nichols, a well-known local player who also had played in the majors. ATCO had laid a new diamond adjacent to the old diamond, used for many years by the Willimantic Colts and other semi-professional teams from 1883 until 1901. The junior teams played on the old diamond, which was rather soggy as it had been flooded to provide a skating rink in the winters. ATCO announced that its mill league would provide young players with a chance to catch the eye of major league scouts.  Recreation Park was officially opened the following season in 1915 during the Old Home Week celebrations. Mill League baseball continued until 1916 when it was decided to form one team from the leagues best players. Art Nichols was appointed coach and contests were arranged with the best serni-professional teams in the state. In 1918, ATCO defeated a strong Boston Red Sox team in front of a crowd estimated at 8,000. The American Thread Athletic Association, which organized baseball, was disbanded after the bitter 1925 strike when funds from the  Association were used to support strikers.  Recreation Park became city property during the Depression. The old racetrack, dating from 1883, can still be detected, but the wooden bleachers and grandstands are long gone.