The City of Bayonne, Division of Recreation will receive $500,000.00 from the Hudson County Board of Commissioners through the Open Space Trust Fund. The award will go towards the improvement of the home playing field of the Division of Recreation Special Needs Baseball League, Buddy Baseball.
The City of Bayonne, Division of Recreation also recently received a $1,000.000.00 Federal Grant in January from Senator Menendez and Senator Booker, as well as a $85,000 grant from Governor Philip D. Murphy and the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs.
The Special Needs Baseball League, known as Buddy Baseball, is located at 11th Street and Avenue E. The award will improve the Americans With Disabilities Act Accessibility Project will include specifically designed upgrades at the field and facility, including, but not limited to, a new playing area, dugouts, bleachers, restrooms, fencing, handicap access to and from the field, and a playground.
The “Buddy Baseball League”, originated in 2015, is a program for developmentally and physically challenged youth, helping them to enjoy the full benefits of baseball participation in an athletic environment structured to their abilities. More than the skills of baseball and softball learned through the experience, the value of the “Buddy Baseball” League is found in the proven therapeutic and socialization benefits of participating in sports, the strengthening of participants’ self-esteem, the opportunities to mainstream into other divisions of play, and the disciplines of teamwork, sportsmanship, and fair play.
Mayor Davis stated, “The City of Bayonne would like to thank the Hudson County Board of Commissioners. We look forward to redesigning the field to provide a wonderful facility for our great Buddy Baseball program and this award will help this wonderful project.”
Bayonne’s Superintendent of Recreation Pete Amadeo adds, ”We just completed our 8th season and it was a season to remember. We have created amazing memories over the past 8 years with Buddy Baseball. It is hard to put into words the excitement and joy this award and commitment means to the Division of Recreation, but more importantly, how much it means to our players and our families of Buddy Baseball. We are grateful to those who worked determinedly to make this dream a reality. The Sky is the limit, and our future will be a great one.”
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