The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) and Kershaw’s Challenge are unveiling two new Dodgers Dreamfields at Jim Thorpe Park in the city of Hawthorne on Saturday.
In addition to Clayton Kershaw’s foundation, the LADF partnered with the city of Hawthorne on the project.
“At Kershaw’s Challenge, we believe every kid deserves a place to have fun, feel safe, and just be a kid. These Dodgers Dreamfields are where lifelong memories are made — where teammates become friends and baseball teaches lessons that last well beyond the game,” Clayton and Ellen Kershaw said in a statement.
“We’re proud to partner with the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation and the City of Hawthorne to bring that kind of joy to this community.”
The Dodgers Dreamfields program builds and refurbishes baseball and softball fields in underserved communities with the goal of providing families with safe havens and points of pride in their neighborhoods.
The hope is that Dodgers Dreamfields help re-energize a community’s involvement in baseball and softball, while also boosting the safety of local parks and providing a place for everyone to enjoy.
“Dodgers Dreamfields are transformative investments that provide safe spaces for youth to learn, play, and grow,” Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation CEO Nichol Whiteman said. “We’re grateful for the City of Hawthorne, our partners, sponsors, and community leaders for helping us nurture the next generation of champions.”
Since 2003, LADF has invested nearly $21 million to refurbish 65 Dodgers Dreamfields and provide top-level baseball and softball fields. With the completion of fields 64 and 65, over 1.8 million youth and families will have access to these safe havens and points of pride.
The two fields unveiled at Jim Thorpe Park will bring the total number of fields completed by the LADF to 65. That moves the Dodgers Foundation closer to their goal of 75 fields by 2033 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the franchise’s move from Brooklyn to Los Angeles in 1958.
The previous completed project at Blair Park in San Bernardino featured Dodgers Dreamfields Nos. 61, 62 and 63. Third base coach Dino Ebel, who attended San Bernardino Valley College, was among those on hand for the ribbon cutting and festivities.
The ceremony at Jim Thorpe Park will include a brief program featuring the singing of the national anthem, remarks from Whiteman and City of Hawthorne councilman Alex Monteiro, among others.
After the unveiling, LADF will host its second Dodger Day of the Dodgers Dreamteam season. During the community resource events, Dodgers Dreamteam players and their families can access health screenings, educational programs and basic essentials.
According to Parks for California, 91% of Hawthorne residents live in areas with less than three acres of parking space per 1,000 people. The Dodgers Dreamfields project reinvigorates 50% of the city’s public baseball and softball fields and gives more than 23,000 youth in ZIP code area 90250 access to revitalized green space.
Scope of Dodgers Dreamfields project at Jim Thorpe Park
The $822,000 project revitalizes green spaces to help re-energize the community’s baseball and softball programming while boosting the safety of local parks and providing a place where neighbors can gather, exercise, and play.
Crucial refurbishments at Jim Thorpe Park included upgraded fencing, new customized signage, new foul poles, upgraded dugouts, an enlarged field, two scoreboards, new infield mix and sod, refurbished backstops, and an updated bullpen for youth ages 5-12 and high school-aged players.
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