Astros Give Back To Community. For real this time.

Mr. T would be proud: now he won't have to save the community center by himself. Drayton McLane and Major League Baseball have put their money where their mouth is, and they're bringing first-class baseball facilities to one of Houston's most neglected neighborhoods.

The Astros, the city of Houston, and the state of Texas announced plans for Sylvester Turner Park on West Little York on Friday. The park will house a baseball academy, which will provide baseball and softball instruction for kids 7-17 as well as more broad-based educational opportunities.

For decades, MLB has operated similar academies in Latin America, where promising young players can be groomed for the pros; following an initiative to increase African-American participation in baseball, an American academy was opened in Compton in 2006. The Compton academy has been a runaway success, so many other urban centers are developing academies as well.

Sylvester Turner Park is named for the long-time Texas legislator (and perennial mayoral candidate) who spearheaded its development. The park is funded equally by the city, state, and the Astros and is expected to open by the end of the year.
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photo: flickr user eschipul