LAPLACE – In July 2004 the St. John Recreation was awarded a grant in the amount of $50,000 from the Baseball Tomorrow Fund (BTF).  The grant supported the construction of baseball fields at a new baseball complex for the youths on the west bank of the parish and provided funding for the baseball field fill, drainage and fences.           

After more than twenty-five years, baseball continues to be a popular sport in the Laplace community.  The west bank is made up of three towns, Edgard, Lucy, and Wallace, which are located linear along a thirty mile stretch of River Road.  St. John the Baptist Parish Recreation Department respectfully sought after and was awarded funds from Baseball Tomorrow for the construction of four baseball fields at our new West Bank complex.  This facility will address the needs of the 4,500 citizens on the west bank.

“The completion of this project marks the realization of a dream for this organization and the community as a whole,” says Errol Manuel, St. John Parish Recreation Director.

“The Baseball Tomorrow Fund appreciates St. John Parish Council’s dedication to this project and, more importantly, to the children which it serves,” added Cathy Bradley, Executive Director of the Baseball Tomorrow Fund.  “We are proud to have supported the growth of youth baseball and softball in this community.”

To celebrate the completion of the project, the St. John Parish Council will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony at the West Bank Complex in Edgard, Louisiana on Saturday, May 3, 2008 at 10:00 a.m.  BTF Executive Director, Cathy Bradley, will participate in the festivities, along with St. John Parish President, Bill Hubbard, Public Information Officer, Buddy Boe, St. John Parish Council members, St. John Parish School Board members and St. John Parish State Representatives are all invited to come and join in on our celebration.          

The Baseball Tomorrow Fund is designed to promote and enhance the growth of baseball and softball throughout the world, by funding programs, field improvement and equipment purchases to encourage and maintain youth participation in baseball and softball. Since its inception in 1999, the Baseball Tomorrow Fund has awarded grants totaling more than $13 million, benefiting nearly 150,000 youth participating in more than 330 youth baseball and softball programs across the U.S., Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe and Asia.  For more information visit www.baseballtomorrowfund.com.