Cleveland Indians, partners to complete 'Fields for the Future' renovation project at Luke Easter Park

Cleveland, OH - The Cleveland Indians will participate in the inaugural Fields for the Future, a renovation of a baseball field at Luke Easter Park in Cleveland's Kinsman neighborhood, on Thursday. The project is the latest in the club's long-term vision to improve the quality of youth baseball in Cleveland.

The club will complete the project in partnership with the Baseball Tomorrow Fund (BTF), The Motz Group, the City of Cleveland, Fox Sports Ohio and Crain's Cleveland Business. BVU: The Center for Nonprofit Excellence is assisting with the coordination of volunteer projects, including painting, bleacher construction and more at the park.

BTF is providing a $10,000 grant to help pay for the supplies associated with the project, while The Motz Group has donated the field re-grading and pitcher's mound construction.

Indians head groundskeeper Brandon Koehnke will be on hand to conduct a field maintenance clinic for City of Cleveland employees and youth players, focusing on mound and home plate upkeep.

"One of our organization's guiding commitments is to positively impact the community in which we work and play, and this project will help us meet that commitment," said Rebecca Kodysh, the Indians Executive Director of Community Impact. "Our partners' help on this project is vital to making the biggest impact."

Indians President Mark Shapiro, Ken Silliman (Mayor Frank Jackson's Chief of Staff), Ken Johnson (Ward 4 Councilman) and Michael Cox (Director of Public Works) will be on hand to commemorate the day.

A formal welcome will occur between 11 a.m. and noon on Thursday, as well as ceremonial first pitches thrown by pitchers from nearby John Adams and Benedictine High Schools.