The Cal Ripken Jr. Foundation’s Swing for the Future has recently announced a plan to build several new stadiums in the greater Baltimore area — including building atop the old Memorial Stadium site.  The goal of the project is to give at-risk children the opportunity to become involved with playing baseball, football, and many other sports activities.

Foundation officials, working with community partners, are raising money for that $1.5 million complex, the flagship project, and for a $1 million multipurpose field in Park Heights near Pimlico Race Course. Three other sites will be chosen as well, in East Baltimore, West Baltimore and one other city location. No deadlines for sites’ selection have been set.

“The goal is to give kids a safe and wonderful place to play and be together,” Ripken said Wednesday in an e-mail through a spokesman. “Sports is just a hook to get us in front of kids and give us the chance to help teach them valuable life lessons.”

“It would give kids a safe place to play, whether competitive sports” or other physical fitness and character-building activities, Salem said. “It’s a basic need that’s lacking in so many of these communities. That’s a gap we’re trying to help fill.”

Helping keep the dream alive not only continues to involve children in sports, but also helps to keep them out of trouble. This is a great opportunity for both the local community and the children.

Source:
Ripken Foundation to back 5 ballparks in city [The Baltimore Sun]