Reds unveil youth field renovation over Play Ball weekend

While the Reds were busy winning a road series in St. Louis, baseball and softball remained in full swing throughout Greater Cincinnati over the weekend.

The Reds and Reds Community Fund joined in celebrating the return of Major League Baseball’s annual Play Ball Weekend, held from June 10-12. Play Ball is an initiative put together by MLB and the United States Conference of Mayors starting in 2015. The initiative seeks to encourage participation in all forms of baseball and softball among all ages, with a focus on youth. 

The centerpiece of this season’s Play Ball Weekend in Cincinnati was LeBlond Recreation Center in the city’s East End, where PNC collaborated with the Reds Community Fund and Cincinnati Recreation Commission (CRC) to complete a field renovation on Friday evening.

“Thank you to all of our exceptional partners for helping keep our youth playing baseball and softball,” said Reds chief executive officer Bob Castellini. “It is a wonderful way to teach character, dedication and self-discipline to our children. And this requires our baseball fields to be at their very best, which you’ve all made happen today at Riverside Drive.”

Originally dedicated as PNC Field in 2011, the field renovation was designed and constructed by Playground Equipment Services, a local company that donated a new synthetic infield for youth baseball and softball. The beautification featured volunteers stepping up to the plate to work on cleaning, painting and landscaping around the recreation center.

Once the finishing touches were made, the new PNC Field was officially dedicated during a ribbon-cutting ceremony before the new field was christened with a 12U softball game between Reading/VYO (Valley Youth Organization) and the Cincinnati Sluggers. The ceremony featured Castellini and several other special guests, including: Aftab Pureval, mayor of Cincinnati; Warren Weber, PNC regional president for Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky; Sam LeCure, Bally Sports Ohio broadcaster and former Reds pitcher; Charley Frank, Reds Community Fund executive director; Daniel Betts, director of the Cincinnati Recreation Commission; and Eric Schmidt from Playground Equipment Services.

“What you need to know is that the city is investing in you,” said LeCure, while addressing the young players. “The city of Cincinnati right now is thriving because of investments by groups and people like PNC, CRC and the Castellinis. They’re invested in you because they care about you.”

The Reds put their big league touch on the event, bringing Mr. Redlegs, Rosie Red and the Reds Rally Pack along for the festivities. The 12U teams got a taste of what it’s like to be a Major Leaguer with pregame player introductions, along with walk-up and inning break music from DJ Prymtime.

Spectators had their fun as well. In addition to being treated to a ballgame, they enjoyed circus performers, face painting and giveaways, plus a visit from the Kona Ice truck -- the perfect complement to a warm night at the ballpark.

The East End wasn’t the only area of activation over the weekend. From Friday through Sunday, Cincy Metro USA Softball welcomed fans to Heritage Oak Park in Mason for the sixth annual C-Metro Tournament. The P&G MLB Cincinnati Reds Youth Academy also had a Pitch, Hit & Run event scheduled Sunday for boys and girls ages 7-14, though it was postponed until July 17 due to weather.

But Mother Nature couldn’t fully rain on the Play Ball parade, as this year’s campaign was another successful one. Kids in attendance at all Play Ball Weekend events received a bat and ball set, T-shirt and tickets to a future Reds game. And even with one of the marquee events being rescheduled, over 500 kids signed up on Friday and Saturday for baseball and softball activities. The weekend once again emphasized the Reds and MLB’s commitment to growing the game, which starts with today’s youth.

“I was with mayors from across the country this past Saturday for the U.S. conference in Columbus,” Pureval said. “One thing everyone is on the same page about, no matter how big or small their community, is how crucial it is to invest in all of our children. To make sure that they have access to exciting outdoor programming as they’re growing up and that they’re playing, laughing and growing all together. When I look at a program like Play Ball, I see it as a perfect example of how we all win when our business, communities and cities work together.

“The purpose of all of this is for kids in Cincinnati to have access to a great opportunity -- that they can live an active life, meet new friends, engage with mentors and most importantly, develop a true sense of community.”