OKC Dodgers Help Refurbish Local Baseball Fields
The Oklahoma City Dodgers recently paired up with Oklahoma City Parks and Recreation to refurbish the baseball fields at Wheeler Park as part of Minor League Baseball Charities’ “MiLB Project: Refresh” powered by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment.
More than 50 volunteers from the OKC Dodgers front office staff, as well as Oklahoma City Parks and Recreation employees, were in attendance to assist with the mid-May event. Minor League Baseball™ provided a grant to assist with expenses, while ECHO brought tools, gloves, earbuds and workers, and kindly donated a sprayer and trimmer following the event to help with upkeep of the park.
“We look forward to helping bring improvements to Wheeler Park, which will not only benefit OKC Dodgers Rookie League players, but other area youth and adults utilizing these facilities throughout the year,” OKC Dodgers President/General Manager Michael Byrnes said. “’MiLB Project: Refresh’ provides our organization with an opportunity to give back to our Oklahoma City community and also build upon our relationship with Oklahoma City Parks and Recreation.”
Wheeler Park is home to the OKC Dodgers Rookie League, which provides opportunities for more than 300 youth on 25 teams to play baseball in the Oklahoma City area. The league is designed to be fun and inclusive by helping ease participation costs, as the Dodgers provide jerseys and hats for all players, as well as equipment for each team.
“The overall goal for the project was to better Wheeler Park, not only because it’s the home for the OKC Dodger Rookie League, but for every league that plays there,” said OKC Dodgers Partner Services Coordinator Summer Killion, who assisted in planning the event. “The №1 goal was to put polycap on all the fields for better sightlines, weed management and cleanup for the overall aesthetic of the park and for participant safety.”
“MiLB Project: Refresh” aims to contribute to Minor League Baseball’s goal to give back to and enhance youth baseball and softball communities in MiLB cities across the country. The Dodgers were one of 15 minor league teams selected to be a part of the program.
“‘MiLB Project: Refresh’ will help make playing fields for youth baseball and softball players safer and more accessible, allowing them to enjoy the game they love,” Courtney Nehls, assistant director of community engagement for Minor League Baseball, said in a release. “With the help of ECHO, we are giving back to and enhancing our communities, and ensuring that the game of baseball continues to flourish.”
“MiLB Project: Refresh” is the most recent of many volunteer opportunities the Dodgers have participated in throughout Oklahoma City, including the Boys and Girls Club of Oklahoma City, Habitat for Humanity, Positive Tomorrows and the Salvation Army.
