Trinidad Recreation Center New Baseball Field

In a continuing effort to get District Youths more involved with baseball, Our Washington Nationals announced today an effort to assist The District Of Columbia Parks & Recreation in building a new baseball diamond at the Trinidad Recreation Center in Northeast DC. Washington's Major League Team donated clay for a new infield and the batter's box. Additionally two baseball batting screens--used for protection during batting practice were also donated. This latest community involvement is separate from the proposed DC Baseball Academy in the works through The Washington Nationals Dream Foundation. That effort, to be situated at Ft. Dupont Park in SE DC is awaiting final transfer of the land from The Federal Government to The City to allow for The Dream Foundation's work to move forward.

Ironically, The Trinidad Neighborhood historically was once involved with a Brick Making Company that dug up the surrounding land for it's rich clay value to make bricks. The resource in this part of NE so great at that time, The Washington Brick Machine Company sold off the excess land for what was soon to become homes and the beginnings of this separate neighborhood in The District Of Columbia. Now, the story has sort of gone full circle.

Photo--Trinidad Concerned Citizens For Reform, Inc.

Here is the complete press release from the team:

WASHINGTON NATIONALS DONATE MATERIALS TO ASSIST WITH CREATION OF BASEBALL FIELD AT TRINIDAD RECREATION CENTER

The Washington Nationals have donated materials from Nationals Park to the DC Department of Parks and Recreation, including clay from the infield, to assist with the creation of a baseball field at Trinidad Recreation Center in Northeast Washington DC. Previously used as a football and soccer field, the recreation center is now home to a baseball field made with Major League commodities.

The Nationals donated 20 tons of infield clay, one ton of clay batter’s brick boxes and two baseball batting screens to the recreation center earlier this month. The infield clay was used to create baselines and cutouts around each base while the clay bricks were used to create the batter’s box at home plate. By creating baselines and base cutouts and leaving the infield as grass, the field will be safe and playable for baseball, football and soccer. The batting screens will be used by the baseball coaches and players during batting practice adding an increased level of safety for the pitchers during practices.

“The Nationals are thrilled that we were able to donate Major League materials to help create the first baseball field at Trinidad Recreation Center,” said Chartese Burnett, Nationals VP of Communications & Community Relations. “We are committed to growing the sport of baseball in the Washington Metropolitan area and to developing young fans. We are honored to represent the national pastime in the nation’s capital and we are dedicated to making an impact in youth baseball in the region.”

“This generous donation from the Washington Nationals will enable District youth to experience baseball on a major league field at Trinidad Recreation Center,” said Dr. Ximena Hartsock, Acting Director of the DC Department of Parks and Recreation. “The Department would like to extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to the Nationals for making this new baseball diamond possible.”