At Fredrick Douglas High School in West Baltimore, baseball and softball players will no longer have to take infield practice in the school’s parking lot. Thanks to the help of our Title Sponsor, Dan Towriss and Group1001 as well as other major contributors and the Ripken Foundation Board, Fredrick Douglas now has a brand new state-of-the-art turf baseball field in the heart of West Baltimore.
Standing in the crowd for the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, it’s hard to believe that in the very same community the 2015 Baltimore riots occurred. Sitting side by side with local guests from the neighborhood, I could see the sense of renewal and hope in their eyes. Brooks Robinson, Hall of Fame Baltimore Oriole, who the park is named after, was present at the dedication and referred to the field as “The Field of Dreams.” One of his own personal favorite baseball movies, Brooks reminisced about the importance of baseball and team sports in his life.
The new park will be used by both the softball and baseball teams at Fredrick Douglas High School and for other local community-based organizations’ programming as well as the James Mosher Baseball League. The site provides youth a safe, clean space where they can be active, learn, and gather together in a healthy, positive way.
Transformation is taking place in this challenging neighborhood, and we are extremely proud to be a part of this much needed change in West Baltimore.
