The Forest Manor baseball diamonds got a significant facelift Oct. 5 thanks to the efforts of the Indianapolis Indians front office and the Indianapolis chapter of Major League Baseball’s Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities Program (RBI). Many volunteers came out to clean up the ball fields,
The Tribe’s staff spent the day serving Indianapolis’ underprivileged youth by refurbishing multiple diamonds at Forest Manor Park which is the primary home to Play Ball Indiana. Bleachers were repaired, diamonds leveled, and the growth around the fences was removed. Head groundskeeper Joey Stevenson and his staff led the project. — Stevenson is recognized as one of the best groundskeepers in Minor League Baseball. Most recently he lead the transformation of Victory Field to a football field.
Mike Lennox, Executive Director of Play Ball Indiana noted that the overhaul was part of the Tribe’s commitment to bringing more young people into the game of baseball. Over the past few decades, inner-city youth have turned away from baseball and to basketball and football. “What many kids don’t realize is there are more college scholarship opportunities for baseball, and for the ladies, softball than basketball and football. It is a viable option for kids to go to college.”
Lennox noted that the Forest Manor diamonds have seen more kids playing recently, to about 400 on the various teams that play. RBI provides uniforms, shoes, and equipment for kids who can’t afford them, provides training, and gives children the opportunity to learn about teamwork and cooperation instead of running the streets in summer. The Indians have committed $100,000 to the effort to get kids involved in baseball, including the refurbishing of city baseball diamonds.
Volunteer Danny Hagan’s kids play on the diamonds, which are just a couple of blocks from his home. While he loves it that his children have a safe place to play ball nearby, he wishes that the city and neighbors would take better care of the park. “I’ve run off people who were illegal dumping,” he said. “I’m getting tired of cleaning it up.”
Despite the problems at the park, he remains hopeful that the work will help others take pride in the neighborhood and increase youth participation in the sport.
On Oct. 10, beginning at about 9 a.m., games begin at Forest Manor Park, 2000 N. Forest Manor Ave.
