Baseball Field Project
IF WE BUILD IT...
...children will play, people will come, and baseball (and softball) will grow.
In Kenya, baseball and softball have been growing at the grassroots level for well over 20 years with various institutions being formed to advance the game.
However, only one field exists in the entire country, located hundreds of kilometres/miles from the capital city, Nairobi. The majority of teams and players are located in the Nairobi area, yet there is no place for formal training, games, or tournaments to be held for youth or adults involved in baseball and softball.
How are the Buffaloes helping to establish a field?
The Nairobi Buffaloes baseball club are helping to lead a collaborative, community-driven effort with one of Kenya's leading baseball and softball universities, to build a first-of-its-kind field complex in the Nairobi area. The Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), located on the outskirts of Nairobi, has set aside up to 10 acres of land to serve as the future epicentre of baseball and softball development in Kenya and East Africa. The University has also put forward staff and student resources to carry out an applied learning project involving multiple departments, including the JKUAT Deparment of Architecture.
The Buffaloes are providing support in the form of fundraising, awareness building and technical assistance in the field design and construction stage. We believe "if we build it" together as a community, the incredible will come true.
LATEST UPDATES
Fielding a team of advocates for Kenyan baseball and softball
April 2022
The Buffaloes were invited to present to a discussion about baseball and softball in Kenya hosted by US Charge d'Affaires (acting US Ambassador) Eric Kneelder with Kenyan Cabinet Secretary of Sports and Culture Amina Mohammed, the Ambassador of Mexico Erasmo Martínez, Luke Williams Australian High Commissioner, and Chris Thornley Canadian High Commissioner to Kenya. The Vice-Chancellor for JKUAT, Dr. Victoria Ngumi, represented our partnership in building Nairobi's fields of dreams.
Little League Softball article features field project
March 2022
A recent article on littleleague.org featured one of our favorite softball (and baseball) players, Jasmine Miller, who joined us for the groundbreaking of the field just two weeks after she and her family arrived in Kenya. Not only did she help breakground, she hit a homerun for the Buffaloes in our game (her first baseball game ever) versus the JKUAT team after the ceremony.
Read about how the field and project have played a part in connecting her with the softball and baseball community and Kenya and kept her connected to the game she loves.
January 8, 2022 - Buffaloes vs. JKUAT Game - With a relatively flat and fully cleared area for one field, we kicked off the new year with the first exhibition match on the basic field. The field remains in Phase "0" (learn about the phases below) as we test the soil and playing conditions. Revised estimates are being made for construction costs based on soil material and drainage needs.
January 8, 2022 - A view of the field in Phase 0 in advance of the first exhibition game between the Buffaloes and the JKUAT Team.
November 13, 2021 - The softball community held a skills clinic and exhibtion games on the cleared area for field number one.
November 6, 2021 - Baseball Clinic - The Buffaloes held the first youth baseball clinic on the JKUAT field with over 50 people in attendance. The five hour session covered basic warmups, stretching, fielding, batting, game theory and rules, and lots of fun games, including some live hitting and fielding drills.
November 5, 2021 - The JKUAT team got out in the first week of November 2021 to prepare the field for the first youth baseball and softball clinics, after the tractors had done most of the hard work of clearing the space.
October 15, 2021 - As a result of initial fundraising efforts, tractors have started clearing the land as part of "Phase 0".
September 20, 2021 - Buffaloes launch fundraising campaign for field construction. Buffaloes player Yuki Kashiwagi features groundbreaking ceremony on episode of popular Japanese Youtube show, ChekaTV.
September 19, 2021 - JKUAT hosted a groundbreaking ceremony and meeting to kickoff the project. An exhibition game was held on the football (soccer) field to commemorate the day. The JKUAT team registered their first ever win against the Buffaloes.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
The Nairobi Buffaloes are collecting donations from individuals that will help kickstart or serve as a "seed" round to help establish the fields. Managed by Buffaloes team members using Kenya's own M-Changa crowdfunding platform, funds raised will be paid directly for tools, materials, construction and development of the fields.
Raising Funds to Build & Test the Field
Our current goal is to raise $15,000 to support the initial stages of the field construction. To date, we've raised nearly $5,0000, which has allowed us to start the process and clear the field - which we call Phase 0!
New donations will assist in advancing the field to the next phase, Phase 1. Specifically, an additional $10,000 will allow us to completely level the baseball field area and test methods for creating soil composition for the infield that could help us reduce costs for the entire complex. Help us get there!
Other Contributions
We're also seeking contributions in the form of in-kind donations such as construction and fencing materials, expertise in construction, or volunteer contributions. If you'd like to discuss how you can help, please contact us.
PROJECT TIMELINE & PHASES
Project Summary
The objective is to complete a two field complex (one for adult baseball and one a hybrid softball / youth field) which can host local and regulation international games. The vision is to build facilities that could provide a 300 person seating capacity, training facilities, and incorporate water conservation and green design principles. Development of the fields will happen through a multi-phase approach, beginning with a preliminary proof of concept phase starting in September 2021. Additional phases would begin based on resource availability.
"IF WE BUILD IT" - IDEA & PLANNING
In June 2019, during a game between the Buffaloes and JKUAT Generals, a spur of the moment "if we build it, they will come" conversation was had between Buffaloes players and JKUAT staff and leadership. During that conversation, JKUAT officials agreed that 10 acres of available university land near existing sports fields should be set aside for baseball and softball, saying, "we want to see who comes!"
Following the formal approval of the plan, in collaboration with JKUAT's Architecture department, the University made the project a priority student/faculty-led design process to provide applied learning for students in various departments. Professors and staff from the Landscape Architecture and Architecture Departments, are leading the design and build out of the field. The Unversity has also committed univeristy farm equipment to aide in the construction efforts.
COMPLETED: SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2021
Phase "0" - Minimum viable field
The objective of this stage is to level and clear the first field. The goal is to establish a basic level playing surface to provide the ability to test the location, soil and drainage, and use of the field. During this period, once the field is cleared, partially levelled and compacted, a number of youth skills clinics and tournaments will be held to help determine what adjustments to the designs and plans need to be made.
EARLY 2022: FUNDRAISING IN PROGRESS
Phase "1" - Improved Main field & Basic Softball / Youth field
This phase will focus on finalising and improving the baseball field with permanent field infrastructure, including field shaping for draininge, construction of fencing, infield, dugouts, and expanded footprint. Basic clearing of the softball field will begin.
Phase "2" - Advanced field & stadium development
Advanced field and stadium development with supporting facilities for players and spectators; development of field 2 for youth baseball and softball. Explore options for lighting.
PROJECT TEAM
