Media Contact Only:  John Stokes, (202) 673-2195

This morning, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) Director, Clark E. Ray hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the completion of capital improvements made to Banneker baseball diamond, now known as Maury Wills Field, located at 2500 Georgia Avenue, NW.  The ribbon cutting ceremony also included the dedication of the District’s newest premier athletic field to baseball great, Maury Wills, on the opening day of the 7th Annual Maury Wills Invitational Baseball Tournament. The Maury Wills Invitational Tournament is being presented by the DC Sports and Entertainment Commission and Washington Baseball Community Trust.

DPR began converting the 90-foot baseball diamond at Maury Wills Field to a new ‘Patriot’ Bermudagrass natural playing surface in 2008. Other new additions that have transformed Banneker into a premier athletic field include a 3 lane, 400-meter track, seating for 500 spectators, dugouts, lighting, scoreboards, bathrooms, on site storage facility, and new field maintenance equipment. The improvements at the new Maury Wills Field are now complete and the field is ready for the 2009 spring season. 

“This ribbon cutting ceremony marks yet another shining moment for the residents of the District of Columbia. Capital improvement projects such as the improvements made here at Banneker Field, now Maury Wills Field, demonstrate that District athletic fields can compete with some of the best fields in the nation. It is also with great pride that we are here today to dedicate the District’s newest premier athletic field to Mr. Maury Wills. Today is a great day for District baseball!” said Mayor Fenty.

Activities for the day included a morning ribbon cutting ceremony, field dedication, baseball clinic, and tournament games. Local DC Interscholastic Athletic Association (DCIAA) teams and other youth baseball players participated in a morning clinic hosted by Mr. Wills himself. Clinic participants, between 8 and 18 years old, concentrated on improving skills in batting, outfield play, throwing, pitching and catching. In addition to the clinic, this special dedication event also included the first game of the tournament between Cardozo Senior High School and Eastern High School.

“I am pleased to add the first exclusive, premier baseball diamond onto DPR’s growing list of premier athletic fields in the District. We are thrilled to have such an influential sports legend, Maury Wills, accept this dedication and hope that the community will enjoy the facilities here at Maury Wills Field for many years to come” said Clark E. Ray, director of DPR.

Maury Wills, a Cardozo Senior High School alumni and Washington, DC native, played his first games at Banneker field and was signed to the Los Angeles Dodgers at a tryout camp at then Banneker field.  Wills is best known for his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers and his title as two time, National League MVP.