A new baseball field at 5323 Parallel Parkway will be ready to play ball this spring thanks to donations that came in this month.
The complex received a $100,000 donation from the Royals Charities to be used on renovating the field, formerly the 3&2 field in Kansas City, Kan. The groundbreaking for the complex was held in August, and work has now progressed to the point that it is complete, according to Cle Ross, executive director for the Kansas Reviving Baseball in the Inner Cities program through Success Achieved In Future Environments.
Ross said the $100,000 presented this month was in addition to $200,000 donated last year by Royals Charities. In addition, the Cal Ripken Foundation donated $300,000 to the project, whose total cost was $1.4 million, he said.
The new field is a state-of-the-art turf field, and the entire surface is synthetic turf from the front to the back, Ross said. Youth ages 3 to 18 will be able to play on the field. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned for April, he added.
Besides those who are members of the Kansas RBI League, some other young athletes may be able to use the field, he said. He hopes to create partnerships with high schools to play home games at the new field, particularly with Schlagle, Washington and Wyandotte, he said.
Ross said the name of the program was changed recently from KCK RBI to Kansas RBI to reflect its interest in welcoming youth from other communities to the league.
“Previously, a lot of people had thought our league was only structured for kids from KCK, and that was not the truth,” Ross said. “We’re interested in any young man or woman interested in playing in the league and who lives in Kansas. So the easiest way to prevent confusion was to change the name.”
Ross said the league’s core interest will still be in Kansas City, Kan., but it will be open to any young athlete in Kansas.
“Back in the day, when kids became really good, they felt they had to leave Wyandotte County to play competitive baseball, and we’re trying to create an atmosphere where people want to come into Wyandotte County to play competitive baseball,” Ross said.
Ross said former and current Kansas City Royals players have become involved with the clinics that Kansas RBI holds, as well as with the fundraising efforts for the field.
During the past few years, the league’s clinics have seen appearances by Lorenzo Cain, as well as Jeff Montgomery, Brian McRae, and Willie Aikens, and others. Ross said he hopes to hold additional clinics with the assistance of the Ripken foundation.
Area residents can expect to see some former 3&2 alumni, including David Segui, Neil Allen and Steve Renko, participating in events for the opening of the complex in April, he said.
