Rays Help Commemorate Campbell Park Field Renovation

February 10, 2017 – Rays infielder Tim Beckham, President Brian Auld, and St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman were on-hand to commemorate the newly-renovated Cambell Park baseball/softball field with a ceremonial first pitch. Over 20 students from Campbell Park Elementary school were also on-hand to kick off he event.

The field renovation was financed by the Rays Baseball Foundation and the manual labor was provided by the City of St. Petersburg Parks & Recreation Department and Rays’ groundskeepers. The field is part of the Rays Baseball Foundation Field Renovation grant program and will provide young boys and girls in St. Petersburg a new and safe place to play ball.

Quotes To Note:

“I feel like having a field like this teaches them more structure and more unity to get out here and play with each other and play with their peers.” Said infielder Tim Beckham. “Just being able to interact with other peers in the community.”

“Our mission is to energize the community through the magic of Rays baseball.” President Brian Auld said. “We certainly do that playing games at Tropicana Field with the big league club, but we really want to contribute to our youth in particular. Campbell park here, right in the shadows of Tropicana Field, is an often under served area. So to give these kids a major league field that a major league grounds crew has worked on is something that brings us tremendous pride.”

“This is an organization that is really deeply engaged and involved in this community in so many different ways.” St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman said. “From doing fields like this to being involved in working with our police department on park walk and talk, handing out tickets to games, having kids come and get tutoring with reading…there’s just so many different things that the Rays are doing in the community and the community has no idea about.”