Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation, City of Arlington, Major League Baseball, and Corey and Mady Seager hold Groundbreaking for All-Star Legacy Project

Major field renovation at Senter Park to provide baseball and softball opportunities for underserved youth within the Arlington community; The first of several All-Star Legacy projects in the Metroplex as part of 2024 MLB All-Star Week

March 7th, 2024

Arlington, Texas — The Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation, City of Arlington, Major League Baseball, and Corey and Mady Seager today announced the MLB & Texas Rangers All-Star Legacy Park and Corey Seager Batting Cages renovation as the first 2024 All-Star Legacy project unveiled leading up to the 94th MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard on Tuesday, July 16 at Globe Life Field.

The groundbreaking ceremony took place this morning at the former Senter Park in Arlington. Corey and Mady Seager were joined by City of Arlington Mayor Jim Ross, Arlington City Council Member Rebecca Boxall, District 5, Texas Rangers Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer Kellie Fischer, MLB’s Senior Vice President of Social Responsibility April Brown, City of Arlington Acting Director of Parks Dr. Venera Flores-Stafford, Optimist Club representatives Cindy King and Kevin Ailara, and Paragon Sports Vice President of Marketing Katie Markovich.

The annual All-Star Legacy initiative is an MLB Together effort between Major League Baseball and the All-Star host Club to make a longstanding impact within the local community and among national charitable partners of MLB. The 2024 All-Star Legacy initiative will focus on projects that provide access for youth baseball and softball, support veterans and diverse and underserved communities, and the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation’s long-time partner, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tarrant County. The Legacy Projects will enhance the three largest communities in the Metroplex – Arlington, Dallas, and Fort Worth.

“We are thrilled to partner with the City of Arlington and Major League Baseball on this magnificent renovation of Senter Park into the MLB & Texas Rangers All-Star Legacy Park and Corey Seager Batting Cages,” said Neil Leibman, Chairman of the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation Board of Directors. “It’s the beginning of several life-changing Legacy project initiatives led by the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation as part of MLB All-Star Week. The renovation will ensure the youth of Arlington have ample opportunities to play baseball and softball.”

Located less than three miles from Globe Life Field, the 3.2-acre Senter Park opened at 700 S. Mary St. in 1952. The newly renovated field will host various entities including but not limited to the Optimist League, community partners, and the City of Arlington Parks and Recreation Athletics. The renovation will feature the following:

  • Corey Seager Batting Cages – Complete with lights and a new covered warm-up area.
  • Turf installation for two baseball fields.
  • Replace and install new dugouts, bullpens, and fencing around the park.
  • New bleacher installation complete with shade structures.
  • Shade structures and scorer’s tables for existing bleachers.
  • New scoreboard installation.
  • New parking lot and pedestrian sidewalks to improve park safety and usage.
  • Install new drainage system for turf fields.

“The Rangers and the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation have been outstanding partners with the City of Arlington for decades,” said City of Arlington Mayor Jim Ross. “This investment by the Rangers and MLB in Arlington’s Senter Park is about more than creating well-lit fields for kids to play baseball or softball. This legacy project shows once again how our community is stronger and the opportunities for our youth to pursue their American dreams are brighter when we work together.”

The MLB & Texas Rangers All-Star Legacy Park and Corey Seager Batting Cages renovation has an expected completion date of July 1, 2024. During MLB All-Star Week, the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation, Major League Baseball, and the City of Arlington will host a ribbon cutting ceremony followed by a PLAY BALL event for children in the community.

“We are thrilled to launch our 2024 All-Star Legacy initiative and unveil this incredible project at Senter Park with the Rangers, City of Arlington and the Seagers,” said April Brown, MLB Senior Vice President of Social Responsibility. “Together with our Clubs, Baseball contributes more than $100 million annually to our communities. This special Midsummer Classic effort is an opportunity to thank our All-Star host community for all they do to support one of our sport’s grandest stages. The Rangers are a major force for positive change, and we cannot wait to share the amazing Legacy projects that lie ahead for the Metroplex area.”

In addition to the investment made by the Rangers and MLB, the project is being made possible by the City of Arlington, Arlington Tomorrow Foundation, Optimist Club of Arlington, Corey and Mady Seager, Graham Civil Engineering, Paragon Sports Construction, and Yuggi Lighting.

All 2024 All-Star Legacy projects will be commemorated leading up to the 94th MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard at Globe Life Field. Since 1997, Major League Baseball and host All-Star clubs have donated approximately $105 million through the All-Star Legacy initiative. For more information, please visit MLBTogether.com.

The Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation and Major League Baseball will announce the other initiatives that benefit various programs and venues in the Metroplex at a later date.

The MLB & Texas Rangers All-Star Legacy Park and Corey Seager Batting Cages renovation renderings can be accessed here: https://txrangers.box.com/s/8t4n00z0oe5zrdj6yp9nt1byx5sq2v0q

ABOUT THE TEXAS RANGERS BASEBALL FOUNDATION

Since its inception in 1991, the Foundation has invested more than $70 million in our community and is dedicated to improving the lives of children, military, first responders, and their families, through meaningful programming and partnerships focused on education, health, and athletics. Signature programs include the Texas Rangers MLB Youth Academy at Mercy Street Sports Complex, presented by Toyota, the 2018 Allan H. Selig Philanthropic Excellence award-winning Richard Greene Scholars, the Charley Pride Fellowship Program, and the 50th Anniversary Legacy Grant Program. Faced with ever-increasing need in our communities, we are providing more financial assistance than ever to our neighbors through the support of partner organizations and emergency relief organizations. For more information, visit rangers.com/foundation.

ABOUT MLB TOGETHER

MLB Together is the League’s new platform emphasizing Baseball’s efforts to make important societal contributions through the power of partnership and community. MLB Together embodies the sport’s guiding principles of community engagement, nonprofit partnerships, social impact and volunteerism. MLB Together serves as an ongoing call-to-action for everyone across the game, including fans, to get involved in their communities through a diverse offering of goodwill, legacy and charitable programs. More information about this work, which MLB, its Clubs and its partners have been committed to for decades, is available at MLBTogether.com. The MLB Together platform operates within seven pillars and corresponding guiding principles, partnerships and programs, including: youth empowerment, closing equity gaps, domestic & physical safety, health research & resources, military support & resources, disaster relief and environmental sustainability.

ABOUT THE CITY OF ARLINGTON

Arlington, the 50th largest city in America, is a global community and has been recognized as the 5th-most diverse large city in the country. As a premiere entertainment destination, Arlington attracts more than 14 million visitors each year and is home to Six Flags Over Texas and Hurricane Harbor, Texas Live! and four professional sports franchises: the Texas Rangers, Dallas Cowboys, Arlington Renegades and the WNBA’s Dallas Wings. The City, positioned at the center of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, is also proud to be the home of The University of Texas at Arlington, General Motors, D.R. Horton and a host of global, domestic and family-owned businesses. Quality of life in The American Dream City second to none, with a low cost of living, affordable housing, rich educational and culture opportunities, nationally recognized recreation facilities and 4,600 acres of parkland.