On November 18, 2008, Esperanza International together with their international partners Major League Baseball, the Baseball Tomorrow Fund, the New York Mets, Omar Minaya, and Jose Reyes as well as local partner Banco Hipotecario Dominicano, SEDEFIR, Dominican Development Alliance (DDA), the Palmar Arriba and Villa Gonzalez town halls, among others, broke ground to reconstruct the Palmar Arriba/Jose Reyes baseball diamond in Reyes’ home town of Palmar Arriba, Villa Gonzales Municipality, Santiago Province.
The project aspires to fully reconstruct the baseball diamond installing grass in the infield and outfield, clay perimeters in the infield and around the outfield wall, sprinkler systems, stands, dugouts, backstops, fencing, bathrooms, and an 8,000 gallon cistern, as well as reconstructing the outfield wall. In its first phase, the project budget ascends US$125,000, which will be contributed primarily by the Baseball Tomorrow Fund and Major League Baseball.
Esperanza International will carry out the second phase of the project starting in June of 2009 with the help of SEDEFIR, INDHRI and other government authorities in the Santiago Province. The second phase of activities will cost over US$65,000 will include the construction of a roof for the bleachers, batting cages, and a drainage system around the field.
The new baseball diamond will benefit more than 200 youth and teenagers that regularly train and play in the community. The first phase of the project will be completed by the end of June, 2009.
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