Updated rendering of Jeffy's Field

Ripken Management and Design sent us a more refined rendering of our early design for Jeffy's Field. It's much more detailed than the previous sketches and includes the open dugouts, shaded "grandstand", and the versatile infield design that can accommodate both 60- and 70-foot base paths. You'll also notice, as in previous designs, that Jeffy's Field incorporates a "green monster" home run wall that ballplayers will look forward to hitting. This and other field features are still in early consideration and are subject to change.

Ripken Baseball goes to bat for Jeffy's Field!

 

As you know, our intent is to make this field a thrill for every child who plays on it. We made great strides toward that goal recently when Ripken Design & Management in Aberdeen offered to provide field design and construction consultation for Jeffy's Field.

 

Creators of the original design you see on this web page, Ripken Design & Management will be working with us to create the field so many of you are helping to fund.

 

Part of the Ripken Baseball family of companies, Ripken Design & Management works with cities, investors, and ownership groups to fund, design, and install some of the nation's most outstanding sports environments. The talented professionals at Ripken Design & Management will surely help to create a beautiful field that will thrill countless youngsters and will bring a smile to Jeff as he watches over those who play on it. We look forward to working with Ripken Design & Management in the weeks and months ahead.

 
 
 
 
 
The Field: First Steps

The journey to completion of Jeffy's Field is just getting started, but we've been thinking about it - a lot. Here is what we have so far:

The Site: As we have written, the field will be part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church's "Land of Promise" campus near Urbana, Maryland. The 44-acre campus is just west of the Route 75/80 junction. As indicated on the following graphic, the field will be located near the back of the property (in red). The church also plans on including a picnic pavilion, walking path, and amphitheatre.

The Layout: The church plans on including both a multi-purpose football/lacrosse/soccer field as well as Jeffy's Field. The following graphic indicates how the fields might be situated within the red shaded area of the previous graphic. The left side of the graphic would be at the top of the red shaded area.

The Field: Drawings of the field will evolve, but the initial sketches, courtesy of Ripken Management & Design, indicate a very special field with a "green monster" home run wall. Also planned but not indicated on the first sketches are a warning track, scoreboard, on-deck circles, benches (of course), and possibly lights. The following are field sketches from three different perspectives. Stay tuned for updated drawings.

 
Since baseball was Jeff's passion, we are truly blessed with this opportunity to build a field in his memory.

During our family discussion with Pastor Bert Lane of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, we became aware of a new church campus being developed near our home, in Urbana, Maryland. In addition to a new sanctuary and offices, the plans for the campus also include picnic pavilions, a walking path and athletic fields. One of the athletic fields is earmarked as a baseball field.

Pastor Lane, Pastor Dave Oravec, and the Evangelical Lutheran community have graciously agreed to let us adopt this baseball field and create something very special. This will be a field that every child would want to play on. A field that Jeff would have loved to play on. A field where children can learn the game and pursue their baseball dreams.

One more thing. It will also be a field where all kids can play. The church may even partner with area rec leagues who will schedule their games on Jeffy's field. In short, it will be a field to remember.

Stop back to this page for progress on the field, both in the planning stage, and when the actual field is graded and created, hopefully beginning this fall and completed next spring.