St. Johns County Celebrates Expansion of Field of Dreams Baseball with Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

Описание: On Feb. 7, St. Johns County celebrated the expansion of Field of Dreams Baseball (1401 Shetland Drive, St. Johns) with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

District 3 Commissioner and Board of County Commissioners Chair Clay Murphy, District 5 Commissioner and Vice Chair Ann Taylor, District 1 Commissioner Christian Whitehurst, and Sheriff Rob Hardwick attended the ceremony, along with various St. Johns County administrators and staff and many area locals.

“As someone who grew up in this community playing baseball, my kids played baseball, now my grandkids are playing baseball… this is so exciting for me to see here,” said Chair Murphy.
The $1.5 million project added a new concession building with ADA-accessible restrooms to St. Johns County’s disability-friendly baseball field. It also expanded the field’s existing parking lot.
“The decision to fund that beautiful structure, to fund the things that exist here, is the easiest decision I’ve ever made as a county commissioner,” said Commissioner Whitehurst, a sentiment echoed by Commissioner Taylor.
“Just look around you at this beautiful place,” said George Vancore, co-founder of the Field of Dreams Baseball League. “We have a real concession stand—no more tents. A new parking lot. And the thing that [we’ve wanted] for 16 years: flush toilets.”

The FOB Baseball League also took the opportunity to show its appreciation for the St. Johns County Parks and Recreation Department and the St. Johns County Parks Foundation by gifting the Foundation a check for $20,000.

“You know how privileged we are to stand amongst these heroes?” said Sheriff Hardwick, referring to the players and their parents. “You are sitting amongst the most special people on this Earth.”

“This project represents so much more than a new concession stand and restrooms,” said Jamie Baccari, Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation. “St. Johns County Field of Dreams [Baseball] is a place built on the belief that every child, regardless of ability, deserves the opportunity to play, belong, and thrive. Today’s ribbon-cutting is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when a community commits to inclusion in recreation.”

After the ribbon-cutting, the commissioners grilled and wrapped a big batch of hot dogs that they then served, along with other snacks and drinks, to community members from the new concession building while a baseball game took place.

“We have children in wheelchairs, we have children who are visually impaired; this is a facility that is specifically designed for them,” said Chuck Forcier, co-founder of the FOD Baseball League. “What the County has done, allocating the land and the finances to put this whole program together, is beyond describable. And, really, I don’t see anything like this anywhere else.”