The Ripken Foundation and McWane Ductile have broke ground on the new 118,000 sq.ft. Youth Development Park in Phillipsburg, NJ. The event drew in important individuals from all over New Jersey, including Phillip McWane and the McWane Ductile employees, Senator Doug Steinhardt, local officials, representatives from nonprofit organizations like Norwescap New Jersey and the Firth Youth Center, Phillipsburg town staff, youth program leaders, and Ripken employees.
Walters Park, where the multi-sport turf facility is located, is just around the corner from Phillipsburg Elementary School and the youth center.
Three men who grew up in Phillipsburg came together to make sure this field was completed. "It started with a big dream," said Co-Chair of the McWane Field at Walters Park Fundraising Committee Dr. Jim Brennan. "It's so rewarding to be back here," said Chuck Brady, EVP of Strategic Initiatives and Resource Development at the Ripken Foundation. Fundraising Committee Co-Chair Jeff Finegan continued, "We played ball here as kids."
This facility will be able to accommodate baseball, softball, football, soccer, lacrosse, and field hockey. "If you build it, they will come," said Dr. Brennan. "That's the concept that we're counting on, and not only that, but tournament and league championships for regional league championships and those kinds of things."
Read more about this project on WFMZ 69 News here. To learn more about our Youth Development Park initiative, click here.