Mayor Landrieu and City Council Announce Preliminary Agreement with Major League Baseball for Future New Orleans MLB Youth Urban Academy
Proposed site of Wesley Barrow will feature a start-of-the-art-facility
June 16, 2011 – New Orleans, LA - Today, Mayor Mitch Landrieu and members of the City Council announced a preliminary agreement with the Major League Baseball Urban Youth Foundation on plans to build and operate a year-round youth baseball- and softball-outreach program at Wesley Barrow Stadium in Pontchartrain Park. The MLB Urban Youth Academy will operate in conjunction with New Orleans Recreation Development Commission, providing programming for more than 1,500 underserved New Orleans area youth. An ordinance to authorize a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement (CEA) has been filed for approval from the City Council.
“Our best tool in improving our economy and reducing crime is by investing in meaningful activities for our youth,” said Mayor Landrieu. “I am pleased to have worked with Councilman Fielkow and Major League Baseball to bring this invaluable program to the kids of New Orleans. It will provide them with valuable life skills and offers yet another alternative to the temptation of the streets.”
“We are pleased to be at this phase of the planning process for the future New Orleans MLB Urban Youth Academy,” said Jimmie Lee Solomon, Executive Vice President, Baseball Development, Major League Baseball. “We look forward to the City Council’s decision, and are hopeful for the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of young people of New Orleans.”
As part of the Major League Baseball Urban Youth Initiative, MLB Urban Youth Academies provide free, year-round baseball and softball instruction, as well as education programs to young people in urban communities. Major League Baseball currently operates Urban Youth Academies in Compton, California, Houston, Texas and Gurabo, Puerto Rico. Additionally, two Academies have been announced for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Hialeah, Florida.
“The Major League Baseball Urban Youth Academy will be a great addition to the entire City of New Orleans. This state-of-the-art youth sports facility is a transformational project for the City of New Orleans. The fact that Major League Baseball selected New Orleans to be its first non-MLB city to host an Academy is a testament to the resiliency of our citizens and the bright future which lies ahead. I thank Major League Baseball for having the confidence to bring this tremendous asset to the youth of the Crescent City,” said Council Vice-President Arnie Fielkow.
“The Urban Youth Academy will create a positive outlet for the energy of our City’s youth while opening their eyes to the opportunities that stem from “the American Pastime” – from the fun of playing the sport to learning the skills for broadcasting, journalism, grounds keeping, athletic training, coaching, and more. With this program, the MLB strives to instruct youth in the same vein that we as a City hope to, by instilling integrity, respect, accountability, character, and teamwork. We must thank Councilmember Fielkow for his great efforts in bringing the Urban Youth Academy to New Orleans, Councilmember Hedge-Morrell for her help in securing Wesley Barrow Stadium as the academy location, and Jimmie Lee Solomon and Darrell Miller of the MLB for allowing a city without a Major League Baseball team to benefit from the missions of the League,” said Council President Jackie Clarkson.
The plan for the New Orleans MLB Urban Youth Academy is to operate in Wesley Barrow Stadium which, as one of Mayor Landrieu’s “100 Committed Projects,” is slated to receive over $5.3 million in renovations. The new state-of-the-art facility will feature three fields, including a baseball, softball and tee ball. The fields will have scoreboards, seating, dugouts and lights. The complex will feature four batting cages, an indoor facility, pitching mounds and other major-league caliber training facilities. The New Orleans MLB Urban Youth Academy will operate on a year-round basis, offering free baseball and softball instruction, as well as clinics, to youth throughout Southern Louisiana.
“I’m thrilled to see months of hard work pay off to bring the MLB Urban Youth Academy to New Orleans. Major League Baseball’s representatives have shown continued dedication to our community, and we’re happy to have them bring this program to our youth,” said Councilmember Cynthia Hedge-Morrell.
In addition to NORDC, the New Orleans Major League Urban Youth Academy will work in cooperation with Southern University New Orleans, the local school districts and various chapters of the Boys & Girls Club of America, to select participants. The Academy will select recommended participants from throughout Southern Louisiana, primarily involving youth from any underserved community.
The City Council is expected to vote on the CEA at the next full Council meeting, scheduled for July 7.
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