The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) has continued to serve local communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, and on Wednesday began their latest project with a groundbreaking ceremony for a Dodgers Dreamfield at Maywood Park.
Jorge Jarrín served as emcee for the event, and Dodgers Spanish-language broadcaster Jaime Jarrín joined the LADF and local leaders for the ceremonial shoveling.
The $657,000 transformation will see the installation of new playing surfaces and grass, enclosed field, upgraded dugouts, refurbished dugouts, upgraded irritation system and an LED scoreboard that resembles the one at Dodger Stadium.
LADF is completing the latest Dodgers Dreamfields project in partnership with the city of Maywood, and YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles.
“The Dodgers Foundation envisions a city where everyone — regardless of zip code — has the opportunity to thrive,” LADF CEO Nichol Whiteman said. “We are tackling the most pressing problems facing Los Angeles, with a mission to improve education, healthcare, homelessness and social justice for all Angelenos.
“Alongside partners, we work to impact racially diverse communities that sadly lack the resources that they deserve. Simply stated, the Dodgers Foundation is bigger than baseball. The L.A. County Department of Parks and Recreation recognizes a standard of four acres of park land per 1,000 people.
“Unfortunately, predominantly African-American neighborhoods have 1.7 acres of park land per 1,000 people; and Latino communities, only 0.6 acres; and Asian-American communities just 0.3. That leaves underserved communities — especially where minority youth reside — with significantly less opportunities to enjoy outdoor play.
“Due to the cost, lack of community safety, poor quality fields and/or limited access to local parks, youth and families in communities with diminished economic resources are experiencing significant barriers to playing baseball and softball in their neighborhood. As a result, we are making strategic investments through our Dodgers Dreamfields program to build and refurbish fields at existing local parks and recreation sites across Los Angeles.”
Jarrín — who is retiring after the 2022 season, which will be his 64th — was honored to be part of the groundbreaking ceremony and is proud of the Dodgers’ commitment to giving back.
“Many people ask me, why the longevity? I say three reasons. The first one is my love for the game. I love baseball. Second, the support I had from my wife Blanca and my family. And the third, this,” Jarrín said.
“The third reason is I feel so lucky to be with the Dodgers, an organization that really is with the community. There is no other organization in the Major Leagues that really works towards developing and the betterment of Spanish-speaking communities, the Black community, the minorities in general. I am with an organization that really, really cares for the minorities and community.”
Dodgers Foundation progressing toward goal
The project at Maywood Park is the 58th Dodgers Dreamfield and moves the LADF one step closer to their goal of 75 by 2033.
“Part of our mission is to ensure youth in these communities have access to more vibrant, safe spaces to play, while also giving families a safe haven and point of pride,” Whiteman said.
“We think about community integration after COVID-19 pandemic, we have to address how important these open and green spaces can be for engagement and socialization needs of the communities that we serve. … Especially right before the holidays, I think this is even more rewarding as we end 2021.
“Not necessarily out of the pandemic, but truly ready to continue to double down for communities that need us most. When we think about what we’ve done the last couple of months: 50 drive-thru distributions and 4.5 million meals, our communities are still struggling and they need our support.
“The cost of so many things is increasing, and we don’t want to push out our young baseball and softball players. We want them to have the same opportunity as their counterparts across town. So now more than ever it’s so important and feels even more rewarding.”
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