Marty Brennaman Field and its new turf infield at Juilfs Park in Anderson Township were dedicated on Saturday, capping a hectic month-long campaign of field upgrades for the Reds Community Fund (RCF).

Originally dedicated in 2008 to Reds Hall of Fame broadcaster Marty Brennaman, Marty Brennaman Field saw major renovations in ’24, chief among them the installation of a turf infield. The third field this month to be dedicated by the RCF was unveiled with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Brennaman remarked, “As I was driving over here, I was reminding myself that 2008 seems like almost a week ago, and here we are doing it again.” “The meadow is breathtakingly lovely. With the terrible weather we typically experience this time of year, artificial turf will mean a great deal to these people out here. It’s amazing to see so many individuals united in their support of young baseball.”

Brennaman, Reds President and COO Phil Castellini, Anderson Parks District Executive Director Ken Kushner, and Reds Community Fund Executive Director Charley Frank were among the speakers at the occasion. Joe Zerhusen, the Reds public address announcer, and Mark Schueler, a board member and coach for Anderson Township Little League and vice president of ticket sales for the team, were also present.

A November 2023 capital levy approved by the Anderson Parks District made the project possible. Project collaborators included Anderson Township Youth Sports, the Juilfs Foundation, Kid Glove, and The Motz Group in addition to the Reds and Anderson Park District.

Kushner exclaimed, “These improvements are incredible.” As of April 27, our community has the opportunity to play on an infield that was merely a fantasy as recently as November. Projects proceed at this rapid pace because no action is taken. People are driven to effect change. The way that people came together to establish this field is incredible.

Kushner made reference to the expeditious completion of this project, which is one of its distinctive features. Financing was obtained by late January or early February following the levy’s November passage; this procedure usually takes six to eight months to complete.

Furthermore, the RCF’s dedication to continuous community investment is demonstrated by the installation of the new infield at a field that has already undergone renovations. The Community Fund cherishes going back to areas where they have previously worked to make sure they are sustainably managed and available for use by future generations of children.

According to Frank, “our field renovation strategy entails ongoing commitment to the jewel fields that we have assisted in renovating over nearly 20 years.” Continuity and important partners are necessary for this to be done successfully. We are lucky to have both in the Anderson Park District, where many of the original 2008 dedication leaders are still participating.

“Ken Kushner and his group performed a fantastic job last fall passing a capital levy, and they were amenable to the notion of implementing a number of field projects using Marty’s Field’s new infield turf. We also appreciate Kid Glove, the Juilfs Foundation, and Anderson Township Youth Sports for helping to close the funding gap and move this initiative forward quickly. It’s incredible that it’s ready for play in April already.

Brennaman completed the ceremony by tossing the ceremonial first pitch before the Anderson Aces 12U and 11U Red teams dedicated the new field.

Throughout his 50 years in Cincinnati, the Hall of Famer has been active in numerous community initiatives, such as the yearly Encore Technologies Marty Brennaman Golf Classic, which will celebrate its 20th anniversary in September of this year. Since its founding, Marty Golf has raised more than $3.2 million, with all earnings going to the RCF.

However, this one was a little more special since on Saturday, a field in the town where he settled after relocating to Cincinnati in 1974 was renovated and given his name.

It definitely means more, according to Brennaman. Since coming to this area in 1974, I have resided in five different locations. From this park, I can walk to two of them. It means a lot to me since I hear this all the time from people: “My boy plays on Marty Brennaman Field.” Having my name associated with Little League baseball, particularly in this area of the city, is significant since I played the sport, albeit not very successfully.