Improving the Little League Experience for Jersey City Youth
Washington Park Little League provides organized sports – baseball, softball, and t-ball – for Jersey City children ages 4 to 16. Formerly chartered through Little League International, Washington Park Little League hosts the regular spring playing season (April – June) and offers complementary summer and fall training programs.
Washington Park Little League believes in the power of sports to teach life lessons that build stronger individuals and communities. Working with young boys and girls, it stresses the importance of character-building and the six core principles of sportsmanship: Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Good Citizenship. These principles benefit both the children and the adult volunteers.
HealthierJC + Washington Park Little League
For Washington Park Little League, building a Culture of Health means teaching children the value of working with peers and team leaders to succeed and to continually raise the bar on discipline and performance. Washington Park Little League believes that all children benefit from exercise, which develops coordination skills and enhances confidence through mastering throwing, catching, hitting, and fielding.
In awarding the mini-grant, HealthierJC acknowledged the ongoing contribution of Washington Park Little League in advancing a Culture of Health and an inclusive community in all Jersey City neighborhoods.
How was the Mini-Grant Used?
Thanks to the HealthierJC mini-grant, Washington Park Little League purchased training equipment, which was used for free hitting clinics on August 18 and 19. Approximately 60 low-income Jersey City children from Wards C and D participated in this inaugural two-day clinic.
These machines made a positive difference throughout the season, for both players and coaches. They did not incur fees and eliminated the need to travel outside of Jersey City. Because many low-income families do not own cars, conducting this training locally simplified logistics.
The machines also enabled Washington Park Little League coaches to teach the art of hitting in a more uniform way and simulate the pitches players will likely experience in a real game. Players can thereby improve their physical performance, gain mental confidence, and become more engaged in the Little League program. This positive momentum will inevitably attract new community youth interested in joining a respected, winning team!
Moving forward…
Washington Park Little League strives to serve more children each year. It remains committed to lifting up the community by giving boys and girls the confidence that with hard work, they will achieve success.
The organization served 330 players in the spring of 2023, 220 in the fall of 2023, and are it is aiming to attract more than 350 in the spring of 2024.
For more information, visit https://clubs.bluesombrero.com/wpall