Cal Jr and Bill Ripken break ground on a new park in Baltimore City

Baltimore City -   The Baltimore Orioles used to play at Memorial Stadium on 33rd street in Waverly. They've since moved downtown to Oriole Park at Camden Yards and Memorial Stadium came under the wrecking ball. With the demolition of the stadium its glory days were left to memory along with those of  the surrounding community. Kids in the area don't have a viable place to play baseball, football or soccer and as a result the crime rate in the area has skyrocketed.

  In steps Hall of Famer Cal Ripken and his brother Bill. Today they and other dignitaries and sponsors broke ground on what will be the first Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation multi purpose park planned for Baltimore City. The foundation is named in honor of their dad and its goal is to give children and families a safe place to play sports. But its main goal is to reach further than baseball. "We're not trying to build major league players or NFL players at this site on Memorial stadium, we're trying to give kids a chance", says Bill Ripken. They will use baseball as a starting point to impact the lives of underprivileged children. Cal Jr. says of his father, "To actually have a field here for the kids you know he would be proud because that was what he cared about most, using baseball to give a few life lessons to kids". The Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation will partner with the Y of Central Maryland who also owns the property where the park will be built. They project the field will be ready in October of 2010.