Scene from a previous game played on the restored Manzanar baseball diamond.
By MIKEY HIRANO CULROSS
Rafu Sports Editor
Great Leap and the Manzanar Baseball Project have announced this weekend’s public grand opening of the restored diamond at Manzanar National Historic Site has been postponed, due to the ongoing federal government shutdown.
Originally scheduled for this Saturday, the doubleheader was to be the culmination of a years-long effort headed by project director Dan Kwong.
The Manzanar site is part of the U.S. National Parks system and the site remains closed until the government re-opens.
The new prospective date for the games is Nov. 1, but with the federal stoppage now in its third week, that date is uncertain.
“We understand some folks have made travel plans, and we’re doing our best to provide at least a seven-day notice to help minimize possible financial impact,” Kwong wrote in a statement. “While we recognize the timing isn’t ideal with the holidays around this weekend, we’re incredibly excited to share this experience with you and remain steadfast in our commitment to honoring this history.”
Kwong told Fox11 that he’s scrambling to find replacements for players, staff and vendors who had previous commitments and are unable to attend on Nov. 1.
He hopes to make games an annual tradition on the field, which has been restored by scores of volunteers, from identifying markers of the old diamond and pulling weeds by hand, to the construction of the backstop, fan seats, and a raised announcers’ booth – which was nearly finished when they were told to vacate last week.
If the shutdown persists and the Nov. 1 date is cancelled, Kwong said the games at Manzanar will need to be postponed until sometime in 2026, as the weather in the Owens Valley can be harsh and unpredictable.
“The community that has rallied around Manzanar Baseball Project is a beautiful and powerful example of people of all different backgrounds being able to come together and support a common cause – something we need more than ever now,” Kwong said.
“That for me is one of the most beautiful things about this project,” he added.