Baseball diamonds at Crocker Amazon Playground will be renovated under plans to create a youth sports facility at the San Francisco park. 

With school letting out for summer, San Francisco families and thousands of youth are looking forward to spending more time playing sports, staying active and simply being kids. But one major obstacle stands in the way: The city does not have enough safe, reliable athletic fields to meet the needs of its young people.

I know firsthand the impact youth sports can have. I am the president of the San Francisco Little League, a full-time volunteer for the organization and the parent of a 13-year-old child who participates in school and recreational sports throughout San Francisco. Each year, from February through November, San Francisco Little League welcomes over 1,500 youth from every neighborhood, background and ability level to play baseball, umpire games and volunteer in our league.

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Sports like baseball help young people build confidence, resilience, friendships and leadership skills. Youth who participate in sports experience improved physical and mental health, stronger self-esteem, improved social and interpersonal skills, higher academic performance and better school attendance, studies have shown. Those opportunities depend on having spaces where kids can consistently practice, compete and build community.

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