Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, LA84 Foundation and County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation dedicate new Dodgers Dreamfield at Ted Watkins Memorial Park
LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, in partnership with the LA84 Foundation and the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation dedicated its 34th Dodgers Dreamfield at Ted Watkins Memorial Park, 1335 East 103rd Street in Los Angeles. Renata Simril, Senior Vice President, Los Angeles Dodgers, Nichol Whiteman, Executive Director, Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, Mark Ridley-Thomas, Los Angeles County Supervisor, Second District, Patrick Escobar, Vice President, Grants and Programs, LA84 Foundation, John Wicker, Chief Deputy Director of the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation were on hand for the event. Dodgers Adrian Gonzalez, Chris Perez, Miguel Rojas and Justin Turner were also in attendance and lead a youth baseball clinic following the dedication. SportsNet LA broadcaster Alanna Rizzo served as emcee.
"We were thrilled to be joined by Adrian Gonzalez, Chris Perez, Miguel Rojas and Justin Turner today as we dedicated our 34th Dreamfield," said Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation Executive Director Nichol Whiteman. "Their support on a game day in addition to the support of our partners proves the dedication of the club to the Dreamfields program which provides a safe place of play for youngsters in our community."
"The LA84 Foundation is pleased to partner with the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation and the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation to bring a state-of-the art Dodgers Dreamfield to Ted Watkins Park. This wonderful addition to the park will make it possible for youngsters in the area to learn and practice their baseball skills under the tutelage of coaches and other caring adults while having fun," said Patrick Escobar, LA84 Foundation Vice President of Grants & Programs. "As we celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, we are pleased that as the legacy of those Games, we can continue to invest in getting youngsters to be involved in sports and play in quality facilities."
Los Angeles County Supervisor, Second District Mark Ridley-Thomas added: "I would like to thank LA84 Foundation and the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation for the investment they have made not only in this community, but in so many others around the Second District. Having safe and beautiful parks with brand new fields like this one- our sixth one in my district--is an important part of creating strong communities. We invest in our communities so the residents can enjoy healthy lifestyles."
"We are grateful for this wonderful and thriving partnership with the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation and the LA84 Foundation," said Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation Director Russ Guiney. "For young people who play baseball at Ted Watkins Park, this new Dreamfield will be a beautiful place to enjoy a great game and reinforce crucial values of teamwork and sportsmanship - values that will serve them well throughout their lives."
The Dreamfield at Ted Watkins Memorial Park includes a new laser leveled infield surface including new infield mix and bases, a new infield watering system, new laser leveled outfield surface including new sprinkler heads and new sod, new dugout roofs, 6 foot side and outfield fence, new remote controlled solar powered scoreboard and new field signage.
The Dodgers' Dreamfields program is one of the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation's signature initiatives and its goal is to provide baseball fields where youngsters can learn the game of baseball in an organized program that is administered by the City or County in a safe environment while learning the importance of playing team sports and key characteristics like sportsmanship, ethics and fair play.
About the LA84 Foundation
The LA84 Foundation was established to manage Southern California's share of the surplus from the successful 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. The Foundation received an endowment of $93 million. Since it began operations in 1985, it has invested $220 million back into the communities that supported the Games, supporting more than 3 million youth in the eight Southern California counties of Los Angeles, Imperial, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara and Ventura. Its headquarters is the historic Britt House near downtown Los Angeles where it houses the world's premier sports library and meeting facilities. The Foundation provides grants to youth sports organizations, manages programs, including a coaching education program, and convenes numerous forums for the exploration of the most pressing issues in sport. For more information, please visit www.la84.org.
About the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation
The County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation provides the residents and visitors of Los Angeles County with quality recreational opportunities that promote a healthy lifestyle and strengthen the community through diverse physical, educational and cultural programming. The Department also enhances the community environment by acquiring, developing and maintaining 174 County parks, gardens, golf courses, trails and open space areas. Parks Make Life Better! Follow the department on Twitter at http://twitter.com.lacountyparks on Facebook at http://facebook.com/parks.lacounty.gov and on the web at http://parks.lacounty.gov