Operation Blessing worked with a crew of volunteers and The Home Depot employees to rebuild the classic Sunny Jim Park.

JOPLIN, Mo. – For 60 years, Sunny Jim Park has been the place where Little League players in Joplin step up to the plate and swing. Then the recent tornado all but destroyed the park and kids who call it their home field wondered if they would ever play there again.

View more photos

“Every time I played at Sunny Jim it felt good,” said Cameron, a league player. “The place was like a home to me.”

Watch video

In the aftermath of the devastating tornado, the park’s fencing, bleachers, outfield wall, and concession stand were all in shambles.

“I felt really bad that our home was gone—my home—the place we played baseball every day,” Cameron said.

Although the summer baseball season moved forward, Sunny Jim remained in shattered pieces.

“It’s not a summer evening in Joplin unless the lights are on at Sunny Jim,” said one of the coaches.

“The devastation was overwhelming,” said Don, the father of one Little Leaguer. “There really wasn’t much there that was recognizable.”

The Joplin Little League All Star team huddles during a practice.

Then Operation Blessing showed up at the park with a crew of volunteers and The Home Depot. They immediately set to work rebuilding the community landmark. With hundreds of man-hours spent on the park, it soon began to look like the Sunny Jim the people of Joplin could recognize.

Work teams replaced the outfield wall where Little League sponsors display their signs, replaced the fencing along both baselines, and renovated the concession stand.

In a few weeks, the ball park was up and running again, just in time for the season’s closing ceremonies. Although the players didn’t get to play more than two games on the historic field, they are already looking forward to next season.

“We get to come back here next year and play baseball,” said Franklin, an all star team player.

And even for those who have aged out of Little League, Sunny Jim is a place of memories and expectation.

“My little brother’s going to play here, and I’ll get to watch him,” said 13-year-old Christian.

HOW YOU CAN HELP
You can help by making an online donation toward OBI's disaster relief efforts. With your support, we can continue to provide emergency relief and recovery. Please make an on-line donation today.

 

------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright © 1997- 2012 by Operation Blessing International of this page and all contents. No part of this site may be used without prior written consent from OBI. All Rights Reserved. Questions or comments? Email us at operation.blessing@ob.org.