BEVERLY — Baseball, softball and football players at Ridge Park will feel like they're in the big leagues this year as their field has a corporate sponsor.
Louisville-based Humana Inc. helped pay for soil upgrades, field aeration, drainage improvements and new sod at the two baseball diamonds with adjoining outfields at 1817 W. 96th St. in Beverly.
A park district spokeswoman put a price tag of approximately $107,000 on the renovations, adding that Humana "donated a sizable portion of that cost."
"It's a great park," said William Snyder, Illinois market vice president for the third-largest health insurance provider in the country.
Snyder said the project was put on Humana's radar through its partnership with CBS EcoMedia. This branch of the CBS Co. is responsible for funneling a portion of advertising dollars into community projects.
The improvements to Ridge Park were paid for with proceeds from ad time Humana purchased on both the CBS network and CBS Television Distribution, said Rosalind Chu, a manager with CBS EcoMedia.
Ridge Park was identified for the renovation after prior improvements to the tennis courts and a $100,000 rehab of the playground in November 2013 stopped short of the combined baseball and football fields, Snyder said.
"They (the park district) didn't have the funding available to complete the renovation of the athletic fields," said Snyder, a resident of the West Loop.
The field improvements began last fall and will officially be completed with a ceremony from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on April 18 at Ridge Park - just ahead of opening day for youth baseball and softball.
"Projects like this not only help us give back to our communities, but they also help us to inspire physical activity and promote lifelong well-being, which are so important," said Cathryn Donaldson, a Humana spokeswoman.
Michael Kelly, superintendent of the Chicago Park District, also trumpeted the partnership, saying Humana's mission goes hand-in-hand with the activities at Ridge Park.
"These renovations will enhance wellness and recreation opportunities for the children and families of Beverly," Kelly said.
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