UPDATE as of June, 2009: Thanks to the tremendous support from Mayor Daley, his Department of Planning and Development, and his Chicago Park District, along with Aldermen Danny Solis (25th), Bob Fioretti (2nd), Walter Burnett (27th), and Ed Smith (28th), Livingston Field was dedicated as a City park on Opening Day. NWLL had pleaded its case to the IMDC at quarterly meetings for the last four years and even filed a lawsuit against them for lack of open meetings and disclosure. The City had to sacrifice other public land in exchange for the Park. Recent IMDC leadership neglected the City's local partnership and posted signs on two fences (shown below) for the last two years stating their intention to unneccesarily build on the site and destroy our field of dreams, which has been a great community asset and green space for 15 years. Good government matters, and the IMDC must accountability to community oversight! On May 20, 2009 the City Council approved the acquistion of Livingston Field as Livingston Park from IMD, though sadly at the expense of trading other land. On July 19, 2007, the City Council (sponsors Ald. Burnett, Ald. Fioretti, and Ald. Solis) and Mayor Daley unanimously passed a resolution urging the IMDC to keep Livingston Park a baseball field, and we deeply thank them for their official support! Without their long-term devotion, the Park and NWLL would have been bulldozed and pushed aside by the IMDC. NWLL strongly condemned IMDC's self-serving position.
Here are some summer 2007 articles:
Dateline 8/27/08: Thanks to Fox News Chicago and Web Producer Kat Bockli, NWLL was featured on their morning show "Good Day Chicago". Our 13-15 All-Star Team and Coach Mike spoke with anchor Mike Barz. Below is the portal to FoxJox.com, Fox Chicago's terrific service to host video, photos, and blogs of the local youth sports scene.
Secretary of State Jesse White gives a positive message about self-responsiblity, as he has each Opening Day since 1995.
Bob Muzikowski, Founder and President, and Mike Julian, V. P. and Commissioner
Jesse White and his famous tumblers have inspired the NWLL every Opening Day!
Max Weber and Patrick Massey, 2005 Interns, join 11-12 All-Stars for a day at Wrigley Field, including the batting cage.
Alderman Danny Solis (25th) has supported the NWLL each year. He and his family (son pictured) also live in the neighborhood.
Tom Livingston, past Executive Director of the IMDC joins Bob and some players of the team he sponsored. Livingston Field is named after his late uncle David. Below, Dr. Schmidt, IMDC President, extends his long-standing support.
Each week, T-Ballers learn the four parts of baseball: fielding, throwing, hitting, and running.