Dodgers, LA84 Unveil Dreamfield At Reseda Park
LOS ANGELES – The Dodgers Dream Foundation, in partnership with the LA84 Foundation and City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, unveiled a new Dodgers Dreamfield today at Reseda Park in Reseda. Those on hand for the dedication ceremony included President and CEO, Los Angeles Dodgers, Stan Kasten, General Manager, City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation & Parks, Jon Kirk Mukri, Councilmember Dennis Zine, District 3 and President, LA84 Foundation, Anita L. DeFrantz. Dodger broadcaster Charley Steiner hosted the event.
Dodger alumni Al "The Bull" Ferrara, Lee Lacy, Ramon Martinez, Fernando Valenzuela and Steve Yeager and Dodger prospects Onelki Garcia, Matt Magill and Joc Pederson were in attendance and also led a clinic on the new field following the dedication.
"We are proud to continue one of the Dodgers Dream Foundation's cornerstone programs – Dodgers Dreamfields," said Los Angeles Dodgers Owner and Foundation Chair Mark Walter. "Today's dedication at Reseda Park is one example of our commitment to Los Angeles youth. We look forward to continuing to provide athletic, educational and health-related opportunities for the greater Los Angeles community."
"The LA84 Foundation is pleased to have partnered with the Dodgers Dream Foundation and the City of Los Angeles Recreation and Parks to bring a state-of-the art baseball field to Reseda Park," said DeFrantz. "Boys and girls in the Reseda Park community will now be able to hone their baseball skills and dream of someday being in the big leagues each time they step on the field especially improved for them. We look forward to continuing the great partnership with the Dodgers Dread Foundation to bring more fields to other communities in Los Angeles."
"I am very pleased that the Department of Recreation and Parks has again partnered with the Dodgers Dream Foundation and the LA84 Foundation in 2013 to add even more Dodger Dreamfields throughout the city," said Mukri. "These re-built and renovated fields have been a great success bringing a myriad of upgrades that promote youth sports and an active lifestyle. The support of both the Dodgers Dream Foundation and LA84 Foundation helps the Department continue to build healthy communities through people, parks, and places."
"I am elated that the community of Reseda was chosen to be the site of the next Dodger Dreamfield," said Zine. "The goal of the Dodger Dreams Foundation to bring educational, athletic, and recreational opportunities to the youth of the Greater Los Angeles area is truly admirable. I support their mission wholeheartedly and this foundation is making lots of dreams come true in Reseda today."
Field improvements at Reseda Park's Dodgers Dreamfield include new gauge chain link on the backstop and outfield fence lines, newly painted posts and rails, renovated infield laser grading, new infield mix, new sod, newly newly installed bases, a 7' wide warning track, renovated irrigation system and irrigation clock and a new solar powered scoreboard and signage.
About the Dodgers Dream Foundation
Founded in 1998, the Dodgers Dream Foundation (DDF) was created to provide educational, athletic and recreational opportunities for the youth of the Greater Los Angeles community. The Foundation places special emphasis on helping traditionally under-served youth. The Dodgers' Dreamfields program is the Foundation's signature initiative. The program is a partnership between the Dodgers Dream Foundation, the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, LA84 Foundation and local city officials. For more information about the Dodgers Dream Foundation, please visit www.dodgers.com/community.
About LA84 Foundation
The LA84 Foundation was established to manage Southern California's share of the surplus from the highly successful 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. The Foundation received $93 million at its inception. Since it began operations in 1985, it has invested more than $207 million in sports programs serving more about three 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 located in 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 additional information, please visit www.LA84Foundation.org.
About the City of Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Department
The Department of Recreation and Parks maintains over 15,710 acres of parkland with over 400 neighborhood and regional parks, 184 recreation centers and facilities, 372 children's play areas, 321 tennis courts, 256 ball fields, 31 senior centers, 13 golf courses, nine dog parks, 14 skate parks, 12 museums and an urban forest of one million trees. The Department also provides after school and day care programs for children teens, including basketball, volleyball, softball and flag football leagues. For more information about the Department of Recreation and Parks, please visit www.laparks.org.
