LOS ANGELES – MLB and the Dodgers on Monday unveiled a renovated outdoor All-Star Veterans Courtyard at the Volunteers of America Ballington Plaza Apartments in the Skid Row neighborhood of downtown Los Angeles in advance of Wednesday’s Veterans Day.

The project was originally part of the 2020 All-Star Legacy initiative in conjunction with the All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium, which was rescheduled for 2022 because of the pandemic.

“Major League Baseball is proud to continue our commitment to the Los Angeles community despite the cancellation of the All-Star Game,” said Melanie LeGrande, vice president of social responsibility for MLB. “This project is part of our All-Star Legacy initiative and we’re pleased to work with the world champion Los Angeles Dodgers to renovate an outdoor space for veterans at a critical time.”

The Veterans Service Center, operated by Volunteers of America Los Angeles, is the first point of contact for homeless veterans in Downtown Los Angeles. The nonprofit The Mission Continues also partnered on the event.

“There’s just a special relationship between the Dodgers and our veterans in Los Angeles,” said Naomi Rodriguez, the Dodgers’ vice president of community relations. “You see the emotion throughout the stadium when we have our Veteran of the Game, which unfortunately this year because of the pandemic was not possible. It’s a magical partnership and kindship we have and this project was needed now more than ever.”

Although funding for this project originates from the All-Star Legacy initiative that is tied to the 2022 All-Star Game, Rodriguez said she was grateful to MLB for partnering to make these needed improvements this year.

“This is a commitment that the Dodgers and MLB made to our veterans and I’m proud we were able to complete this project,” she said.

In a socially distanced event, volunteers worked on the project over the weekend and on Monday to put the finishing touches on the project that included transforming existing green space into a restorative Zen garden, building new picnic tables, painting an art mural and installing workout equipment.

“This will aid in the resiliency of our veterans as they transition out of military life,” said LeGrande. The facility is expected to be fully operational for veterans next Monday.

Additional projects will be unveiled in coming months, including renovated youth fields in the community. An additional group of All-Star Legacy projects will be announced leading up to the 2022 All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium.