Nelson Baseball benefits from Blue Jays Field of Dreams Grant
By The Nelson Daily Sports
After Nelson Baseball finishes its renovation of Queen Elizabeth Park in Nelson, the Blue Jays just might want to ditch Buffalo as its minor league affiliate.
The Toronto Blue Jays “Jays Care Foundation” made Queen Elizabeth Park renovations happen a little easier after the Major League franchise announced Nelson was one of 12 recipients of the $1.1 million Field of Dreams Grants.
Nelson Baseball will receive $117,000 to assist in the ongoing upgrades to Queen Elizabeth Park in Fairview.
“This has been a challenging year for many, particularly children and youth,” said Robert Witchel, Executive Director, Jays Care Foundation.
“We are pleased that these grants will give them something to look forward to and the ability to reconnect with their peers through the game of baseball on their local diamonds,”
“With this year’s recipients spanning from British Columbia to Newfoundland & Labrador, we are excited to continue a legacy of investing in community infrastructure across the country,” Witchel added.
The Major League Baseball franchise Field Of Dreams is Jays Care’s granting program for infrastructure dedicated to youth life-skill development and physical activity.
The Field Of Dreams program provides funding to design, refurbish and build safe spaces for children and youth to play baseball, develop life skills and learn from positive role models.
In the last five years, Jays Care has committed over $8 million to 66 infrastructure projects across Canada.
Queen Elizabeth Park has been under renovations for most of the baseball season. This year’s work includes installing protective netting, replacing the old dugouts with new structures along with a field equipment building, rebuilding the infield which will correct drainage and surface materials, and building a new batting cage and pitching complex behind the centerfield fence.
Nelson Baseball also received assistance from Regional District of Central Kootenay Areas E, F & H, the BC Tire Stewardship and Kal Tire RePlay Fund, Columbia Basin Trust Basin PLAYS grant which matched corporate donations from Selkirk Paving, RHC Insurance, Hume Hotel and Adventure Hotel as well as donations from Nelson Ready Mix, Rokform Solutions, Home Hardware in Nelson, MapleLeaf Power Corporation and Stella Jones.
Other Jays Care’s 2020 Field Of Dreams grant recipients include:
- Gander, NL – Gander Minor Baseball
- Sydney Mines, NS – Sydney Mines & District Little League
- Lachine, QC – Association Baseball Amateur de Lachine
- Ottawa, ON – Ottawa West Little League
- Brampton, ON – Judith Nyman Secondary School
- Kemptville, ON – Seaway Surge Baseball Club
- Mississauga, ON – Peel Children’s Aid Foundation
- Creighton, SK – Town of Creighton
- Fort Qu’Appelle, SK – File Hills Qu’Appelle Tribal Council Health Services
- Indian Head, SK – Indian Head Minor Ball
- Regina, SK – North Regina Little League
The announcement was made during last week’s Sportsnet Blue Jays Central broadcast.
