Twins Community Fund Grant
Sleepy Eye Baseball Association announced today that they have received a Fields for Kids matching grant of
$8,000.00 from the Minnesota Twins Community Fund. This grant will help fund replacement of the outfield fence at
Eagles Park, which is used by youth and amateur baseball teams ranging in age from 4-54 each spring and summer. This
improvement is much needed and at least 15 years overdue. The fields are used by the Sleepy Eye Baseball Association
youth teams: T-ball, Coach Pitch, Rookies, Mites, and Midgets teams as well as the Sleepy Eye Indians amateur team.
Each spring, both high school teams: Sleepy Eye Public School (Indians) and Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s (Knights) play their
home games on this field.
Aaron Nesvold, President of the Sleepy Eye Baseball Association, said, “This project has been on the board’s agenda
since I joined the board 16 years ago, and now it is finally getting done.” The project will be completed in three stages,
with the first stage scheduled to begin on Saturday, August 10th, with the removal of the advertising signs. Once the
signs are taken down, Heiderscheidt Construction will remove the existing structure. Once the existing structure is gone,
the City of Sleepy Eye’s Electrical Department will be setting new poles and the construction of the new structure will
begin. Once the structure is built, the signs will go back up. We are hoping to have all this completed by Labor Day.
Volunteers from our association are being recruited to help with this undertaking.
Each year, the ballpark hosts around 85-95 games ranging from our town’s two high school teams, youth “Day at the
Park”, VFW/Jr. Legion/Sr. Legion games and post-season tournaments, amateur games and post-season tournaments.
The outfield fence, obviously plays a role within each of these games, but it is also a revenue source for the Sleepy Eye
Baseball Association. Currently 56 signs hang on the outfield fence, giving the local businesses great advertising
exposure during these games. Without the support of these area businesses, the association would not be able to exist in
supporting youth baseball in the area. Replacing the fence will ensure that these signs will have a home for many years
to come.
The Twins Community Fund’s Fields for Kids grant program provides financial support to improve baseball and softball
facilities for youth in the Upper Midwest and Southwest Florida. The program makes matching grants to nonprofit
organizations and local government units that operate baseball and/or softball programs. The Twins Community Fund and
its grant programs are supported in part by its cornerstone partners—Target, US Bank, Treasure Island, and Nike—and
fans across Twins Territory. Since its inception in 1999, the Fields for Kids program has granted more than $5 million to
improve nearly 825 ballfields across Twins Territory.
“The Twins Community Fund is committed to making sure kids across Twins Territory have the support, equipment, and
safe places to play the games they love. We are proud to provide grants that help communities empower young people
and foster belonging through these games,” said Kristin Rortvedt, Executive Director of the Twins Community Fund.
About the Minnesota Twins Community Fund
Established in 1991, the Minnesota Twins Community Fund’s mission is to enrich local and regional communities by
providing resources for the healthy development of children and families through an association with baseball, softball,
and the Minnesota Twins. Since its inception, the Fund has invested more than $22 million to support and empower youth
in Twins Territory through programs, grant making and partnerships. The Minnesota Twins Community Fund is governed
by a board of directors representing communities across Twins Territory. For more information about Minnesota Twins
Community Fund grants and programs, please visit twinscommunityfund.org