Morgan Wallen Foundation, MLB Team Up To Pledge $1 Million To Transform Parkwood Community Club In North Nashville
“When I heard about Parkwood, right here in Nashville, I knew I wanted to help,” Wallen shared in a statement.
Morgan Wallen with Parkwood baseball players in Nashville, Tenn. | Photo Credit: Leila Grossman/Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville
Morgan Wallen, utilizing his Morgan Wallen Foundation, is collaborating with Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association Youth Development Foundation (MLB-MLBPA YDF), alongside local benefactors, to form a partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville.
Their collective aim is to spearhead rejuvenation efforts of the esteemed Parkwood Community Club, a historic complex for Black baseball and softball located in North Nashville.
Combining their resources and efforts, the MLB-MLBPA YDF and the Morgan Wallen Foundation have made significant contributions, each donating $500,000, resulting in a combined investment of over $1 million into the project. This endeavor reflects a strong commitment to community revitalization and preserving the cultural significance of the site.
Additional donations to the restoration of Parkwood Community Club include: The Speer Foundation ($500,000), Airbnb ($100,000), Nashville Sounds ($50,000) and The Neal Agency ($50,000).
“I started the Morgan Wallen Foundation to support youth in two areas – sports and music. When I heard about Parkwood, right here in Nashville, I knew I wanted to help. Every child deserves a chance to play ball and be part of a team, and I truly appreciate this opportunity to be part of Parkwood’s next inning,” Wallen shared in a press release. “I can’t wait to come back out here and see the park once it has been renovated.”
As an avid sports fan, Wallen understands the impact sports can have on a child’s life. He experienced that himself growing up in East Tennessee where he fell in love with baseball and hoped to one day pursue a career in the sport. Sadly, an injury sidelined those dreams, but thankfully for fans, Wallen returned to music. He continues to use the life lessons he learned while playing baseball, such as discipline, hard work and commitment, in his career and everyday life.
Having catered to the community’s requirements since 1966, the endeavors aimed at revitalizing the Parkwood ballfields are an integral component of a more extensive initiative to safeguard the complex’s historical significance and to restore the Parkwood-Haynes-Trinity neighborhood. Guided by Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville, collaborative contributions from the MLB-MLBPA YDF, the Morgan Wallen Foundation, and numerous other partners align with a comprehensive fundraising objective of $2 million. This collective effort is directed toward fulfilling Phase 1 refurbishments for the complex, encompassing the overhaul of two out of the four baseball and softball fields.
“In visiting the historic fields, I instantly felt the significance of Parkwood to Nashville’s baseball and softball community,” Jean Lee Batrus, Executive Director, MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation, shared. “These sports have the power to strengthen lives and communities. YDF is thrilled to team up with Habitat for Humanity and other partnering organizations who are equally passionate about empowering youth access to baseball and softball.”
“The Nashville Sounds utilize the power of baseball to positively impact our community,” Adam English, General Manager, Nashville Sounds, added. “Through our participation in “The Nine” program, this project is a great way for us to make an impact in giving all kids access to the best baseball facilities possible. My hope is that renovating these fields will yield a new generation of great ball players in Nashville, just like six-time MLB All-Star Mookie Betts.”
“Our mission is to build homes, communities and hope by partnering with the Parkwood Board and all our funders who understand this is an important community investment, we will not only save a vital community landmark, but also add quality-of-life resources to an underserved community,” Sherry Stinson, Parkwood and Collaboration Project Lead and SVP of Brand Engagement for Habitat of Greater Nashville, continued.
The MLB-MLBPA YDF functions as a collaborative endeavor between Major League Baseball and the Players Association, dedicated to supporting initiatives that focus on enhancing the quality, efficacy, and accessibility of amateur baseball and softball programs both within the United States and internationally. The YDF plays a significant role in financing projects aimed at renovating fields within underserved communities, contributing to the revitalization of existing baseball and softball facilities. Notable examples include the Roberto Clemente State Park in the Bronx and the 100th Development Park at Reedbird Park in Baltimore, MD.
In the Metro Nashville region, a striking statistic reveals that over 100 elementary and middle schools, along with seven out of ten Metro high schools, lack baseball and softball programs due to insufficient field resources. Situated within the confines of Davidson County District 2, the Parkwood Community Club caters predominantly to an underserved Black/African-American population, with the district recording the lowest median household income of all 35 Districts in Davidson County at $34,000.* By means of this revitalization endeavor, Habitat for Humanity and its partnering supporters aim to enrich the lives of youth and families residing in the Parkwood neighborhood by augmenting the recreational and field offerings available to them.
*Statistics based on information available at the time of the last data update.
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville remains committed to securing financial support for a community-driven initiative aimed at the restoration of the historic baseball park, as well as the creation of a planned 59-acre Metro Park that seamlessly connects with the Parkwood Community Club ballfields. Additionally, their efforts encompass the construction of 26 new affordable Habitat homes within District 2.
For more information on how to become a sponsoring donor, or learn more about the project, visit www.parkwoodballfields.org.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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