Ripken Foundation Joined by PitCCh In Foundation to Renovate Youth Development Park

The Ripken Foundation renovated the Brigadier General Charles Young Playground into a state-of-the-art 150,000 sq. ft. athletic field in partnership with Major League Baseball, the Major League Baseball Players’ Association Youth Development Fund, the NFL Foundation Grassroots Program, and now the PitCCh In Foundation.

Current New York City Mayor Eric Adams, NYC Parks Commissioner Iris Rodriguez-Rosa, New York Yankees All-Star CC Sabathia, and members of the Harlem community joined us to celebrate the opening of this brand new field. “Through the PitCCh In Foundation, we’re proud to support spaces that empower young people to dream, grow, and thrive,” said Sabathia. “This field represents opportunity, resilience, and community – values that shaped me growing up and continue to inspire me today.”

This new Youth Development Park, also known as the “Harlem Field of Dreams”, will serve as a safe space for more than 800 youth to play baseball, football, soccer, and lacrosse. In addition to the capital improvements, including a new synthetic turf field, improved drainage and water detention, dugouts, and more, free youth sports programming will be offered on the new field.

Read more about this project in NYC Parks press release here. To learn more about our Youth Development Park Initiative, click here.