BALTIMORE — The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation (CRSF) and Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE) broke ground at the future site of Eddie Murray Field at BGE Park in West Baltimore.
Recognizing the need for change within the Baltimore community, the Ripken Foundation and BGE will develop the Youth Development Park to provide youth in the West Baltimore community with mentorship through sports and recreation.
Speakers from the ribbon cutting ceremony included Cal Ripken Jr., Baseball Hall of Famer and Ripken Foundation vice-chairman; Eddie Murray, Baseball Hall of Famer; Calvin G. Butler Jr., CEO, BGE; and Steve Salem, President, Ripken Foundation.
“It’s with great pride that we dedicate this field to my dear friend, Eddie Murray,” said Cal Ripken Jr. “Kids in our local communities need our help now more than ever, especially when it comes to finding a positive environment where they can play, learn and grow. Because of our dedicated partners in BGE, we can provide the youth in West Baltimore with a safe place to simply be kids.”
Named in honor of Baseball Hall of Famer and Orioles legend Eddie Murray, the youth size baseball field will host after-school programming in addition to James Mosher Baseball – the oldest continuously operating African-American youth baseball league in the country. The programming will help keep kids safe by providing a positive outlet, mentorship opportunities and a variety of activities that teach life skills.
“This park is a symbol of BGE’s commitment to the Baltimore region, and we are pleased to provide this legacy gift in our 200th anniversary year,” said BGE Chief Executive Officer Calvin G. Butler Jr. “BGE supports initiatives that positively impact the community, especially the lives of young people-our most precious resource.”
Eddie Murray Field at BGE Park will feature a synthetic turf baseball diamond equipped with dugouts, a backstop, and a digital scoreboard. Located behind James Mosher Elementary, the field will be gifted to and maintained by the Baltimore City Public School system. BGE’s support of this and other corporate citizenship programs is made possible through the use of Exelon shareholder dollars.
Over the last six years, the Ripken Foundation has completed 60 multipurpose synthetic turf facilities, impacting over 239,000 youth in 16 states nationwide, including 11 parks located through out the Baltimore area. Additionally, the Ripken Foundation continues to reshape the relationship between law enforcement and youth in Baltimore communities through its Badges for Baseball juvenile crime prevention program.