DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The Jackie Robinson Ballpark Commemorative Site Act has been signed into law by President Joe Biden.

It recognizes the significance the baseball legend has in Daytona Beach.

What You Need To Know

  • The Jackie Robinson Ballpark Commemorative Site Act has been signed into law by President Joe Biden

  • This recognizes the significance the baseball legend has in Daytona Beach

  • This new law means Jackie Robinson Ballpark will also be part of the African American Civil Rights Network

  • Next steps include the Department of the Interior to conduct a special resource study of the site to determine if it’s suitable to be designated as a national historic landmark

The legislation was introduced by representatives across party lines including Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla. 6th District, Rep. Darren Soto, D-Fla. 9th District, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. and Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga.

Jackie Robinson Ballpark, formerly known as City Island Ballpark, is already on the list of the national register of historic places.

What happens next is the U.S. Department of the Interior will conduct a special resource study of the site to determine if it’s suitable to be designated as a National Historic Landmark.

This new law means also adds the ballpark to become part of the African American Civil Rights Network.

All of this is happening as a $30 million renovation project is underway at the park, currently home to Cincinnati Reds Single-A affiliate Daytona Tortugas and the Bethune-Cookman University baseball team.

The historical significance comes from when Robinson suited up to play ball with the Triple-A Montreal Royals back in 1946.

“He wasn’t really able to play anywhere else here in Central Florida. With the partnership of Mary McLeod Bethune and the City of Daytona Beach, that was one of the reasons he was able to play here in Daytona Beach and at the time, City Island,” Jim Jaworski, general manager for the Daytona Tortugas said.

It was at that moment, Robinson made history as the first black African American to play organized baseball.

In 1947, Robinson continued to hit the ground running.

He played with the Brooklyn Dodgers, breaking barriers to become the first African American to play in major league baseball.

“Yeah, we’re a baseball team, but it’s more than that. It’s about community, working with different partners in the community to be able to make a difference,” Jaworski said. 

Jaworski says the upgrades will help bring the ballpark up to MLB standards for minor league venues.

Some of that work has been completed already.

It’s safe to say Mr. Robinson’s impact will continue to live on for generations.

“The famous quote that Jackie Robinson has, ‘A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.’ That’s the goal. I think that embodied who Jackie Robinson was and what he meant to baseball and society,” Jaworski said.