The Ripken Foundation recently held a ribbon cutting to unveil the brand new Essex Field at Renaissance Park in Maryland. The Ripken Foundation partnered with the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, Chesapeake Gateway Chamber of Commerce, and Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks.
"Athletic fields like the new Essex Field at Renaissance Park provides residents of all ages the opportunity to stay active, have fun, and build new connections with their neighbors," said Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski. "We continue to be fully committed to the revitalization of Essex and grateful to our partners in this exciting project for their investment in the youth and families of Eastern Baltimore County."
This field was upgraded with a new synthetic turf, lighting system, permanent seating stands, scoreboard, and expanded sidewalk connections. The new lighted synthetic turf field allows field sports access into the evening and after rainy weather. In addition to expanding recreational opportunities in the greater Essex-Stembridge area, the facility will provide nearby Our Lady of Mount Carmel School students shared access for various interscholastic sports activities.
"Investing in our community's recreational facilities is crucial for fostering a healthy and vibrant environment for our residents," said Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger. "This is another critical community project made possible by the American Rescue Plan Act have which is helping reimagine and strengthen neighborhoods. I commend County executive Johnny Olszewski, the Ripken Foundation, and all those who made this project possible for their dedication and partnership to create safe and engaging places for our children and families to thrive."
The mission of the Ripken Foundation's Youth Development Park initiative is to provide clean, safe places to play and have fun for at-risk youth across the country. "Marylanders need safe places to play sports, spend time outdoors, and connect with their community," said US Senator Chris Van Hollen. "Through the American Rescue Plan, we secured funding to invest directly in the priorities of our communities - and I'm glad to see Baltimore County is putting these funds to good use by fostering healthy, active lifestyles and supporting local recreation for Baltimore County residents."
Read more about this partnership in the Patch's new article here. To learn more about the Ripken Foundation's Youth Development Park initiative, click here.