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NEW YORK, October 15, 1998 – The National Football League has committed more than one million dollars to rebuilding football fields in 15 cities as part of the League’s youth football development program for 1998.

The NFL Community Football Fields initiative is a new joint program of the league and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC). The purpose is to provide non-profit, neighborhood-based organizations with financing and technical assistance to improve the quality, safety and accessibility of local football fields in schools and parks.

"The goal of our overall youth football fund, which was established with the NFL Players Association, is to ensure that young people have an opportunity to enjoy playing the game of football," stated NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue. "The Community Football Fields program, one of the projects financed by the fund, will improve our ability to meet that goal."

The selected local non-profit agencies, working with the NFL and LISC, will begin refurbishing fields later this year. The new fields will be dedicated at public ceremonies during the spring and summer of 1999.

"We are proud to be part of this partnership with the National Football League and local community groups to change the face of urban neighborhoods," said Paul Grogan, president of LISC. "Together, we can literally ‘level the playing field’ in many inner-city neighborhoods across America."

The NFL has committed $1,214,000 to the program this year. Fields will be rebuilt in Baltimore, Boston, Buffalo, Canton, Cleveland, Chicago, Dallas, Milwaukee, Nashville, Newark, New York, Oakland, Pittsburgh, Seattle and Tampa Bay.

** A COMPLETE LIST OF FIELDS IS ATTACHED **
NFL Community Football Fields Program

COMPLETE LIST OF FIELDS

Brooklyn, NY: Parade Grounds

The Parade Grounds, located in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park, needs major renovation and maintenance. A local Pop Warner league and several borough high schools currently use the field.

Canton, Ohio: Fawcett Stadium

In addition to being the site of the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, the stadium hosts an extensive community football league but only is capable of handling 20-25 event days a year on the grass field. New artificial surface and other improvements will extend use of field to more than 200 days a year including high school football games and use by local college football teams.

Newark, NJ: Westside Park

The park is located in Newark’s central ward. The football field needs major refurbishing so it can continue to be used by local high schools and youth groups.

Buffalo, NY: Riverside Park

Originally designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, Riverside Park now abuts a commercial district that has put increasing stress on the park. Park refurbishing will allow continued use of football field by little league football.

Dallas, TX: Moorland YMCA Playfields

The Moorland Y’s football fields need new grading and sod, as well as an irrigation system. With field improvements, the Y is committed to growing its youth football programs.

Nashville, TN: Martin Luther King Field

The football field, surrounded by public housing, needs field maintenance and bleacher replacement. Field is major recreation area for the local community.

Boston, MA: Ramsay Park

The park is one of the very few large open spaces in lower Roxbury. The field, with poor grass cover and rough pebble-filled sand, currently is unsuitable for football. Refurbishment will make park available to local Police Athletic League tackle and flag football programs.

Chicago, IL: Jackson Park

A football field located in this park that serves a low-income neighborhood in Chicago’s South Side will be renovated.

Milwaukee, WI: Boys & Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee

The Boys & Girls Club will construct a new football field that will be part of a large education and recreation center called Metplex. The Club currently runs a youth football league for 500 middle-school children.

Pittsburgh, PA: Fort Pitt Athletic Field

The field is adjacent to a public housing complex and Fort Pitt elementary school. Field quality has declined over the past several years, and improvements will support the growth of a recently established youth football league.

Cleveland, OH: Patrick Henry Junior High School Field

The football field at this junior high school needs several renovations including an overhauled playing field, new fencing and work on the grandstands to repair leaks and water damage.

Oakland, CA: Fremont High School Athletic Field

The high school will replace its present field, badly deteriorated by overuse, with a turf field to extend usage. High schools and youth football groups will use the field.

Seattle, WA: Judkins Park

With its basketball, baseball and tennis facilities already renovated, the grant will go towards improvements to the football field that needs grading and drainage. Judkins Park hosts a youth football league comprised of seven teams and 300 youngsters.

St. Louis, MO: Aviation Field, Forest Park

Servicing a wide swath of St. Louis, Forest Park is an enormous cultural and recreation institution on 1370 acres. Aviation Field will be reconfigured within the park to create at least seven football fields.

Baltimore, MD: Utz-Twardowicz Fields, Patterson Park

The fields are heavily used by schools and a local Boys & Girls Club. The field and environs will be upgraded so that it can host even more football games, including Friday nights.

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