The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF), along with the City of Hawthorne and Kershaw’s Challenge, broke ground on Dodgers Dreamfields 64 and 65 at Jim Thorpe Park on Tuesday.
The groundbreaking event kicked off construction on the newest fields in the Dodgers Dreamfields program, furthering LADF’s commitment to revitalizing local communities by providing quality, safe spaces for youth baseball and softball players.
“The goal is just to be able to give kids an opportunity to do something that they might not have been able to do before,” Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw said. “So whether that’s baseball, whether that’s getting outside, whether that’s being a part of a team, learning how to work together, there’s so many different things that can be impactful for a kid’s life…and who knows, maybe we’ll find the next Mookie Betts or Freddie Freeman out here on this field.”
The $850,000 investment will turn Jim Thorpe Park into a lively community center, improving baseball and softball programs for local youth aged 5-12 and high school players.
The ceremony featured a symbolic shovel dedication and speeches from LADF CEO Nichol Whiteman, Kershaw, LA84 Foundation’s Sandra J. Martinez, and Anthony J. Martinez from Security Benefit.
This event highlighted the goal of creating spaces that bring neighbors together, encourage physical activity, and enhance the safety and vibrancy of local parks.
According to Dodgers Insider, the project at Jim Thorpe Park will include upgraded fencing, customized signage, new foul poles, renovated dugouts, an enlarged field, two new scoreboards, refreshed infield mix and sod, refurbished backstops, and a new bullpen. The two new fields will help meet the needs of more than 24,000 youth, providing opportunities for sports, social and emotional learning, and access to educational resources through LADF’s Dodgers Dreamteam program.
This project is a crucial step in increasing park access for Hawthorne’s 96,000 residents, where only 1 percent of the land is reserved for parks and recreation.
It supports LADF’s broader mission to create lasting community infrastructure across Los Angeles. Since 2003, LADF has poured over $20 million into upgrading 63 Dodgers Dreamfields, and with the addition of fields 64 and 65, safe and quality play spaces will benefit more than 1.7 million young people and their families. As LADF aims to complete 75 Dreamfields by 2033, it continues to build a sense of community and resilience.
Photo Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
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