IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME & PLAY!

Northridge RC Dodgers Dreamfield Grand Opening

Northridge - Over 100 kids from Northridge Recreation Center were buzzing with excitement as Dodger players and legends walked onto the center's new Dodger Dreamfield. Rafael Furcal, Matt Kemp, Jay Gibbons, Tony Gwynn, Gabe Kaplar, Fernando Valenzuela, Don Newcombe, Steve Garvey, Shawn Green, Ron Cey and "Sweet" Lou Johnson were all on deck to celebrate the Grand Opening of RAP's eighth Dodgers Dreamfield at Northridge RC on Tuesday, February 15, 2011.

The new ball field is the first Dreamfield in the San Fernando Valley and marks the start of a new Dodger Dream Foundation commitment. This past summer, the Dodger Dream Foundation in partnership with the LA84 Foundation and RAP announced plans to build nine new Dodgers Dreamfields in the Los Angeles area, with eight of the fields being built at RAP facilities.

The eight RAP locations include: Northridge RC, Pan Pacific RC, Ritchie Valens RC, Lemon Grove RC, Pecan RC, Martin Luther King, Jr. RC, Harbor City RC and Valley Plaza RC.

Each new Dreamfield will receive upgrades to the backstops, the addition of roofs over the dugouts, bleacher and bench upgrades, irrigation improvements, regrading to insure smooth and consistent playing surfaces and renovation of field turf or, where necessary, installation of new sod. A new feature that debuted at the Northridge Dodgers Dreamfield is a solar powered scoreboard, with the tag line "Think Blue, Act Green."

RAP General Manager Jon Kirk Mukri, Dodger owner Frank McCourt, LA84 Foundation President Anita DeFrantz and Councilmember Greig Smith, along with Dodger broadcasters Charley Steiner and Pepe Yniguez were all in attendance to open Northridge's Dodgers Dreamfield. After the ceremonial first pitch was thrown, the Dodger players and legends hosted five clinic stations and signed autographs for their pint-sized fans.

RAP is extremely grateful to our two generous partners, the Dodger Dreamfield Foundation and the LA84 Foundation, for this incredible commitment. Through this partnership we will rebuild and renovate eight baseball fields to give them a myriad of upgrades, as well as a whole new look and better playability. THANK YOU for making L.A. a better place to play!!!

Northridge Recreation Center is located at 18300 Lemarsh Street in Northridge 91325.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Andrea Epstein: 213.202.2690

Amy A. Garcia: 213.202.2689