A DODGER DREAM FIELD IN BOYLE HEIGHTS
Dedication Ceremony and Baseball Opening Day
Los Angeles - Evergreen's 2006 Baseball League Teams received a huge surprise on Opening Day. Over 300 youngsters got the chance to meet former Dodger Willie Davis, Coach Manny Mota and Manager Grady Little.
The three Dodger celebs made special appearances at Evergreen Recreation Center, a City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks' facility, to help unveil a new "Dodger Dream Field" on Saturday, May 6, 2006.
The event was emceed by Hall of Fame Broadcaster, Jaime Jarrin. Councilmember Jose Huizar was in attendance, as well as hundreds of local area children and representatives from (event sponsors) the Dodgers, AAF, Bank of America and the Department of Recreation and Parks.
The $220,000 improvement project at Evergreen transformed an aging baseball diamond that anchored the community for three generations. In the 1940’s, the chorizeros—an amateur adult team run by a Boyle Heights Chorizo manufacturer—dominated the infield. Today the field is home turf to the Roosevelt High School team and Evergreen’s Little League.
Evergreen’s improved baseball diamond is the sixth Dodger Dream Field for the Department. The Dodger Dream Foundation was created in 1998 to provide educational, athletic and recreational opportunities for youth of the Greater Los Angeles community. The foundation has been in partnership with the Department since 2002.
The new field boasts a synthetic infield, state-of-the-art lighting and bleachers, dugout covers, improvements to the irrigation system and two new electronic scoreboards. The project also included $100,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations to enhance programming at the park, including the creation of a girls’ softball team.
After the Dedication Ceremony, Evergreen players learned batting skills from Dodger coach, Manny Mota and former player, Willie Davis. Players also received blue and white Dodger baseball caps.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Jane Kolb: (213)928-9294, or cell, (323)816-6712
Amy Garcia: (213)928-9289
