DODGERS DREAM FOUNDATION,

LA84 FOUNDATION DEDICATE NEW

DODGERS DREAMFIELD AT

NORTHRIDGE RECREATION CENTER

Northridge Dreamfield is the first of nine planned for the Los Angeles area and the first in the San Fernando Valley

LOS ANGELES – The Dodgers Dream Foundation, in partnership with the LA84 Foundation and the Los Angeles City Department of Recreation and Parks, unveiled a new Dodgers Dreamfield today at Northridge Recreation Center as part of the Dodgers’ annual community caravan. The dedication ceremony was led by Dodger Owner and Chairman Frank McCourt, 12th District City Councilman Greig Smith, LA84 Foundation President Anita L. DeFrantz, LA84 Foundation Vice President of Grants and Programs Patrick Escobar and General Manager of the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation Jon Kirk Mukri.

Dodger players in attendance included Rafael Furcal, Matt Kemp, Tony Gwynn Jr., Jay Gibbons and Gabe Kapler, as well as former Dodgers Fernando Valenzuela, Ron Cey, Steve Garvey, Derrel Thomas, "Sweet" Lou Johnson, Special Advisor to the Chairman Don Newcombe and Dodger broadcaster Charley Steiner.

"Today's celebration is about so much more than a beautiful Dodgers Dream Field in the San Fernando Valley," said Dodger Owner Frank McCourt. "More importantly, the Dodger Dream Foundation is about providing Angelenos of all ages and skill levels a chance to play baseball, and to learn the value of teamwork, dedication and many other important life skills. We look forward to opening many more fields in coming months."

The new Dodgers Dreamfield at Northridge Recreation Center includes a solar-powered scoreboard, an irrigation system, a warning track, fencing and dugout roofs. Following the announcement this afternoon, a baseball clinic was held for the youth in attendance with the Dodger personnel as part of the final caravan stop of the day.

"This fantastic new facility in our community is a perfect example of what we can achieve when we seek smart, constructive public-private partnerships," said Councilman Smith. "The Dodgers have shown that they are more than our favorite baseball team - they are strong community partners. My thanks and congratulations on behalf of Council District 12 go to the Dodgers Dream Foundation's Dreamfields program, Frank McCourt, the Recreation and Parks Department and LA84 Foundation for coming together to build something so valuable for the kids in our community at a time when there are so few resources."

This past summer, the Dodgers Dream Foundation, the LA84 Foundation and the Los Angeles City Department of Recreation and Parks committed to creating nine new Dodgers Dreamfields in the Los Angeles area. The commitment will double the current number of Dreamfields to a total of 18. The Dodgers Dreamfield at Northridge Recreation marks the first of those nine.

"The LA84 Foundation is pleased to partner with the Dodgers Dream Foundation and Los Angeles City Recreation and Parks to transform the baseball field at the Northridge Recreation Center into a true Dreamfield. This field is now a beacon in the community calling to youngsters to stay active and healthy," said LA84 President Anita L. DeFrantz. "The LA84 Foundation and the Dodgers Dream Foundation share the commitment to provide access to safe fields of play. We will continue to make good on this commitment as we improve other fields in the Los Angeles area."

Eight of the next planned fields are within Los Angeles City Department of Recreation and Parks properties in the San Fernando Valley, Eastside, South Los Angeles and Central and Harbor areas. An additional field is located in Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley Thomas' district.

The investment in the nine fields includes upgrades to the backstops, the addition of roofs over the dugouts, bleacher and bench upgrades, irrigation improvements, regrading to ensure smooth and consistent playing surfaces and renovation of field turf or, where necessary, installation of new sod. New Dreamfields will also feature solar-powered scoreboards with the tagline "Think Blue, Act Green."