Chicago Cubs' great Ryne Sandberg joined wheelchair softball players and city officials to open the state's first wheelchair softball field at McFetridge Sports Center/California Park, 3843 N. California Ave, June 4. The state-of-the-art field is a project of the Chicago Park District (CPD); Cubs Care, the charitable beneficiary of the Chicago Cubs; the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD); the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) and the Baseball Tomorrow Fund.
"We are proud to be involved in this innovative ballfield for people with disabilities," said CPD General Superintendent David Doig. "[This] celebration moves us forward to making our city a place where all can come out and play."
Cubs Care was a major contributor to the wheelchair softball field, providing $100,000 toward the more than $300,000 project. Cubs Care is a historically strong sponsor of the Chicago Park District, providing more than $2.2 million since 1991, including this year's grant of $110,000 toward Rookie League Baseball offered at 90 Chicago parks and $37,000 toward therapeutic recreation baseball programming.
"The Chicago Cubs and Cubs Care are very proud to be involved in this unique facility," said John McDonough, Vice President, Marketing and Broadcasting, Chicago Cubs. "Participation in our wheelchair softball programs has increased greatly over the last nine years - and with it, the need for a place the athletes can call their own. We are thrilled to be part of this project."
The new field will become the home of the CPD/Cubs Care Buddy Baseball program, a league that pairs disabled and non-disabled children ages 8-13 to learn the great American pastime in an inclusive setting. Last season's enrollment of 150 Chicago Public School students was the largest ever, and the new McFetridge facility will likely expand the program more. Previously, Buddy Baseball players practiced in makeshift school parking lots.
Painted forest green with tan base paths and white bases and foul lines, the asphalt field resembles a major league baseball diamond. In centerfield stands an 18' wide by 10' high electronic scoreboard that rivals those of Chicago's major ballfields. The field measures 150' down the lines and 190' to straight away center. A 4' high homerun fence surrounds the entire field and has designated areas for the dugouts and bullpen.
"[This] marks another first for the City of Chicago," said MOPD Commissioner David Hanson. "The opening of Chicago's first permanent wheelchair softball field signifies the importance, need and desire for a state-of-the-art venue for adaptive sports by athletes with disabilities."
The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) and the Baseball Tomorrow Fund, a joint initiative between the Major League Baseball Players Association and Major League Baseball, both provided grants totaling $25,000. Designed to promote and enhance the growth of baseball throughout the world by funding programs, field improvements and equipment purchases, the Baseball Tomorrow Fund has awarded more than $4.5 million to benefit more than 52,000 youth participating in 84 youth baseball and softball programs across the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Europe.
Executive Director of the Baseball Tomorrow Fund Cathy Bradley said, "Major League Baseball and its players are pleased to be apart of a project that furthers the accessibility of the sport of baseball and softball to everyone."
As part of the opening celebration, the RIC Cubs, the Rehabilitation of Chicago's adult wheelchair softball team, received championship rings for winning both the 2002 National Wheelchair Softball Tournament and the 2002 Wheelchair World Series held at Shea Stadium in New York City. The RIC Cubs will now call the new North Side field their home for practices and games.
"This is one more step towards ensuring that all athletes—able-bodied and those with physical disabilities—are able to compete at the highest levels possible with state-of-the-art equipment and facilities," said Wayne M. Lerner, President and CEO of RIC. "We thank the City of Chicago, the Chicago Park District and Cubs Care for their partnership with RIC."
"We've been imagining of our own 'field of dreams' for a long time... This new park will build our sport in Chicago, attracting many more wheelchair softball teams to compete in the area," said RIC Cub Jorge Alfaro.
With its recent ADA improvements, the McFetridge Sports Center location made an ideal site for the new ballfield. Other ADA improvements include renovated lobby with lowered desks; an expanded locker room to accommodate wheelchairs; and shower areas with no stairs. The Sports Center is the district's only indoor ice-rink facility and offers six indoor tennis courts and ample parking.
Since its creation, Cubs Care has been targeting its aid toward youth sports, children with special needs, domestic violence shelters and a variety of organizations in the Chicago community. Cubs Care has awarded grants totaling over $7.3 million.
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