Norton to Speak at Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy Ribbon Cutting, Tomorrow

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will speak at a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy tomorrow, Saturday, March 29, 2014, at 10:00 a.m., at 3675 Ely Place SE. Norton played an essential role in negotiations between the city and the National Park Service (NPS) to get the federal land for the baseball academy transferred to D.C. The land transfer also allowed for the expansion of the Fort Dupont Ice Arena, which provides free figure skating and hockey lessons to disadvantaged youth.

“As a year-round educational and athletic facility for after school and summer learning, the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy will be a magnificent addition to our underserved neighborhoods east of the river,” said Norton.

Construction of the academy was made possible by a federal, local, and private agreement, where by NPS transferred ownership of several acres of land at Fort Dupont Park to the District, the District provided $10.2 million in construction funds, and the Washington Nationals donated $3.5 million for construction and operating costs and agreed to manage the academy year-round.

In June 2010, the National Capital Planning Commission approved the transfer of 15 acres of federal parkland from NPS to the District to build the youth baseball academy.

Published: March 28, 2014