Morgan Wallen, one of the biggest names in country music, teamed up with Major League Baseball through the Morgan Wallen Foundation to support Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville to renovate Parkwood Community Club in north Nashville.
Wallen, the MLB, the MLB Players Association Youth Development Foundation, and other local funders pledged a total of $1 million to the project. Wallen and the MLB-MLBPA YDF each donated $500k for the renovations.
“I started the Morgan Wallen Foundation to support youth in two areas – sports and music. When I heard about Parkwood, right here in Nashville, I knew I wanted to help. Every child deserves a chance to play ball and be part of a team, and I truly appreciate this opportunity to be part of Parkwood’s next inning,” said Wallen. “I can’t wait to come back out here and see the park once it has been renovated.”
Wallen had dreams of a professional baseball career until he suffered an injury that would end his playing career and brought him back to music. He said that team sports taught him discipline, hard work, and commitment.
The renovation of the Parkwoof fields is just the first step of a major project to maintain the historical integrity of the area and rebuild the Parkwood-Haynes-Trinity neighborhood of north Nashville, an area with the lowest median household incomes in Davidson County. The goal is to raise $2 million to complete Phase 1 of the renovations, which includes two of the four total baseball and softball fields in the complex.
The YDF is a joint initiative by both the MLB and MLBPA to improve amateur baseball programs across the United States as well as internationally. There has been extensive involvement in field renovation projects by the YDF, including the famous Roberto Clemente State Park in the Bronx of New York City.
“In visiting the historic fields, I instantly felt the significance of Parkwood to Nashville’s baseball and softball community,” said Jean Lee Batrus, Executive Director of MLB-MLBPA’s Youth Development Foundation. “These sports have the power to strengthen lives and communities. YDF is thrilled to team up with Habitat for Humanity and other partnering organizations equally passionate about empowering youth access to baseball and softball.”
“Our mission is to build homes, communities, and hope by partnering with the Parkwood Board and all our funders who understand this is an important community investment; we will not only save a vital community landmark but also add quality-of-life resources to an underserved community,” said Sherry Stinson, Parkwood and Collaboration Project Lead and SVP of Brand Engagement for Habitat of Greater Nashville.
Future plans of the project include a proposed 59-acre Metro Park adjacent to the Parkwood ballfields and 26 new Habitat homes.