Cal State Northridge Receives $1 Million Stadium Lighting Grant

NORTHRIDGE, CA -- Cal State Northridge and the Major League Baseball-MLB Players Association Youth Development Foundation on Feb. 12 announced a $1 million grant to upgrade the university's sports facilities and support its youth baseball program.

The grant will go toward renovating Matador Stadium through a new lighting system, as well as helping CSUN's youth baseball initiative, which develops baseball, leadership and life skills in San Fernando Valley kids ages five to 17.

``Quality lighting on a baseball or softball diamond can be easily taken for granted, but as this effort will demonstrate, it also can make a positive difference in the lives of generations of young people,'' MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation Executive Director Jean Lee said. ``The lasting impact that this project will have on the diverse Valley and Greater Los Angeles communities, both on and off the field, made it an ideal endeavor to support."

The grant will allow CSUN Baseball to host night practices and games in an effort to create a more family-friendly atmosphere and a greater sense of community, according to the university, plus make it easier for high school prospects to visit CSUN games more frequently.

The MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation is a joint initiative started by Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association in 2015 to fund efforts that focus on improving the caliber, effectiveness and availability of amateur baseball and softball programs across the United States and Canada.

City News Service contributed to this report/Image via Shutterstock