UPDATE:
Due to inclement weather forecast for Saturday and a desire to keep league players safe, the Field of Dreams game scheduled for The Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville has been cancelled.
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The Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville will be transformed into a Field of Dreams April 2, when nearly 150 members of the St. Johns County Youth Exceptional Needs Baseball League will play five games from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Held in collaboration with the Jacksonville Suns, the games will enable local children with special needs to experience youth baseball – from wearing a uniform and singing the national anthem to rounding the bases with assistance from volunteer “buddies.”
“This is a tremendous opportunity for our league, our players, their families and our friends as we work with the new Jacksonville Suns ownership and leadership teams to provide our players with a very special day,” said George Vancore, Field of Dreams board member and league umpire.
Field of Dreams is a specially designed baseball field that will allow children with physical or developmental disabilities the chance to play baseball. Currently, there are more than 200 such fields across the nation.
“Safety is of the utmost importance for these kids, and the Suns’ field is the perfect setting for these kids to have some fun,” added Gene Kolisnyk, president of Field of Dreams.
The local Field of Dreams program began six years ago when a group of volunteers from Creeks Athletic Association joined with St. Johns County and local, businesses, civic and community groups to fund and build an artificial turf Field of Dreams field at 1401 Shetland Drive in St. Johns. There is no cost to players or their families to participate.
“We are so excited and can’t express our gratitude enough to (Jacksonville Suns Owner Ken) Babby, the entire staff and all of the Suns players for making this day possible,” Kolisnyk added.
The Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville are located at 301 A. Philip Randolph Blvd. in Jacksonville. In keeping with the tradition of Field of Dreams, entry into the games, parking in Lot P and all game-day concessions will be free.
