By NewsLine Staff
mail@floridanewsline.com
Field of Dreams Baseball, St. Johns County’s disability-friendly baseball field located at Aberdeen Park, hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on May 3 to celebrate a major expansion. The project’s $1,513,800 construction contract was approved by the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners at its regular meeting on April 15.
The baseball field will have its existing parking lot expanded, and a new concession building with ADA-accessible restrooms will be added.
District 4 Commissioner and Board of County Commissioners Chair Krista Joseph, District 1 Commissioner Christian Whitehurst, District 2 Commissioner Sarah Arnold, and District 3 Commissioner Clay Murphy attended the ceremony, along with Sheriff Robert Hardwick and various St. Johns County administrators and staff. The ceremony was held on the field in between games, with players and their families present, ending in a series of first pitches between the commissioners and players.
“The new ADA amenities will really help enhance the Field of Dreams into a premier destination for families and players who already travel from throughout Northeast Florida to our community for this opportunity, to play on this kind of a field,” Joseph said. “Beyond the bats and balls, the hits and the hugs, the field represents hope for the players.”
The baseball field is home to the Field of Dreams (FOD) Baseball League, a sustainable voluntary organization that provides a safe, ADA-certified facility where children of all ages with mental or physical disabilities can play baseball for free and be an active part of a thriving athletic association. The FOD Baseball League gives disabled children the opportunity to play baseball in an organized league, wear a uniform, have their names announced, participate in the singing of the National Anthem before each game, and be a player on an athletic team. Aberdeen Park also offers an all-inclusive, ADA-accessible playground.
“When we started this league in 2011, I never envisioned what we would build here,” Field of Dreams co-founder George Vancore said. “The commissioners have really stepped up and realized what we have built out here and what we’re going to sustain over time.”
Vancore attributed the success and popularity of Field of Dreams Baseball to a strong partnership with the county as well as the many Field of Dreams volunteers who work tirelessly performing administrative duties, serving as umpires and buddies on game day, and working in the concession stand.
“This is a very special place, but it doesn’t happen by magic,” Vancore said. “God bless these children — that’s why we’re here.
Photo courtesy St. Johns County
Field of Dreams co-founder and volunteer George Vancore with renderings of the proposed expansion.
