September 16, 2019 - Baseball players with the Hamilton Park Little League now have batting cages at their diamonds at Hamilton Park as a way to improve their hitting skills and encourage more participation in baseball.

Mayor Tom Henry, Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation Department, Fort Wayne TinCaps, and Hamilton Park Little League board members and baseball players today participated in a dedication ceremony to commemorate the completion of the project.

Construction on the batting cages began in May. Local Union 213 of the Laborers’ International Union of North America and the Cement Masons Local 692 provided in-kind construction services for the concrete work. Additional construction partners included R&C Fence, Speedway Construction Products, and the Parks & Recreation Department.

The new batting cages are a result of a partnership between the City of Fort Wayne, the Parks & Recreation Department, the TinCaps, and the San Diego Padres through the Play Ball initiative, a joint effort between the United States Conference of Mayors, Major League Baseball, and Minor League Baseball. A special plaque has been placed on the batting cages to recognize the project partners.

Play Ball focuses on the fun nature of baseball and encourages widespread participation in related activities. Mayors across the country have implemented the initiative with the goal of strengthening the connection between communities and baseball. The City and the TinCaps encourage families and individuals to find time to play catch, run bases in the backyard, and implement baseball activities into family gatherings.