As part of its Hank Aaron Diamonds initiative, funded through the Atlanta Braves Foundation’s Henry Louis Aaron Fund, the Atlanta Braves unveiled three new softball fields across Atlanta, including one at Buckhead’s North Atlanta High School, 4111 Northside Parkway NW. The North Atlanta Warriors held a ribbon-cutting for their field on June 17.
Each project includes a new turf infield and other needed facility upgrades designed to create a consistent, durable, and high-quality experience for student-athletes while opening the door for broader use by community-based programs. Truist Park, the Braves’ home ballpark, sits just northwest of Buckhead across the Chattahoochee in Cobb County, putting the team’s investment close to home for North Atlanta.
The North Atlanta field is one piece of a far larger commitment. Through the Hank Aaron Diamonds initiative, the Braves are rebuilding and upgrading the infields at every operating high school in the Atlanta Public Schools (APS) district — a project that furthers Hank and Billye Aaron’s legacy of supporting youth through sport and education. Costs are covered through the Atlanta Braves Foundation’s Henry Louis Aaron Fund, which backs efforts to increase representation in the game at all levels, showcase young talent from underrepresented communities, and create educational and career development opportunities for future minority business leaders.
For Braves President & CEO Derek Schiller, the initiative is as much about the man it honors as the game itself. “Hank Aaron was one of the greatest players this game has ever seen, but he was an even better person,” Schiller said. “Off the field, he and Billye devoted so much of their time and effort to supporting the educational pursuits of young people. The Atlanta Braves, through the Henry Louis Aaron Fund, are proud and humbled to further this legacy of service with the Hank Aaron Diamonds, in partnership with Atlanta Public Schools. We know that these fields will enable future generations to chase their dreams, on and off the diamond, just like Hank did.”
Beyond the turf infields and facility upgrades, the diamonds are designed to expand access well past varsity rosters, opening opportunities for middle school and community-based baseball and softball programs and supporting the growth of Braves RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities), a youth development program powered by the Marquis Grissom Youth Baseball Association.
District leaders described the gift as a turning point for APS athletics. “We are extremely appreciative of this generous gift and the support of the Atlanta Braves Foundation,” said APS Superintendent Dr. Bryan Johnson. “This partnership will be transformational for our baseball and softball student-athletes, as well as the schools and athletic programs that support them. I am also grateful for the leadership of our District Athletic Director, Greg Goodwin, and our entire athletics department. We are thankful that the Atlanta Braves Foundation believes so strongly in our student-athletes and in Atlanta’s public schools. This investment will have an impact on our schools for years to come.”
That sentiment was echoed by the district’s board, which framed the partnership as part of a broader, community-wide push for student success. “The Atlanta Board of Education is grateful to the Atlanta Braves and the Henry Louis Aaron Fund for their partnership and investment in our students,” said Erika Y. Mitchell, Chair of the Atlanta Board of Education. “Their support enhances the student experience across our district and reflects the community-wide commitment that Dr. Johnson continues to champion, ensuring every student has the opportunity to succeed both in the classroom and on the field.”
The fields also carry a practical benefit for the district, lowering the cost of upkeep even as they widen access — a point Danielle Bedasse, the Braves’ Vice President of Community Affairs and Atlanta Braves Foundation Executive Director, tied directly to the donors who made the work possible. “Youth sports empower athletes, teaching invaluable lessons about dedication, hard work, and teamwork, as well as increasing engagement and graduation rates,” Bedasse said. “These beautiful Hank Aaron Diamonds will create opportunities for more students to train and compete for their local school and more opportunities for community-based sports, while reducing maintenance costs for APS. We are grateful to our corporate partners and community philanthropists whose generosity made it possible to create this beautiful legacy in Hank’s name and positively impact the lives of youth across the City of Atlanta.”
For the coaches and athletes who will use the diamonds day to day, the upgrades solve problems that have long shaped their seasons. “This incredible donation from the Atlanta Braves Foundation will be a game changer for the baseball and softball communities in the Atlanta Public School district,” said Greg Goodwin, Executive Athletic Director for Atlanta Public Schools. “For the project to have the name of one of the most iconic figures in baseball history, The Hank Aaron Diamonds, makes this even more meaningful to our district. These fields will eliminate most practice and game rainouts, as well as all infield maintenance. The opportunities are endless with these new playing surfaces.”
