Former Cub Jason Heyward brigades Fire opens sports complex on Chicago's West Side

Former Cub Jason Heyward brigades Fire opens sports complex on Chicago's West Side

Former Cub Jason Heyward and the Fire platoon will open a sports complex on Chicago's West Side 0120

CHICAGO( CBS) — Several charitable groups, including the Chicago Fire Foundation and Jason and Vedrana Hayward, are joining forces to open the North Austin Center on Chicago's West Side.

The 10- acre,$ 31 million design will give indifferent access to education, sports and other services.

This includes the Jason Heyward Baseball Academy, their rearmost donation to the original community.

" I look at the occasion they gave me and my family through academy and scale," Hayward said." But I also understand how long it's taken to get to this point and how important support is demanded from them and numerous others. So to put a installation like thishere.for me, who's better? That they use their platforms. And with the families who'll pass in then?

Heyward added that although he's no longer a Chicago boy, he still cherishes Chicago as his home.

" We're veritably happy to be involved in our community," said Fire head trainer Ezra Hendrickson." And that is just the rearmost illustration of what we are doing. There is a world- class installation for the kiddies in the community and just a safe haven for them to play different sports and learn a lot. A safe place for different effects."

The Chicago Fire Foundation will give 20 hours of free sports programs on lot each week.

CHICAGO — Jason Heyward performed in a way that transcended the groups that can thrive at a major league club, erecting connections with players from all walks of life as a director and frontal office. Hayward did not need to be the loudest character or the biggest star in the play. People heeded.

Hayward's touch and sense of responsibility could be seen by community activists, political numbers and commercial mates who attended Thursday's inception form at the North Austin Center on Chicago's West Side. The 10- acre nonprofit lot is now anchored by the Jason Hayward Baseball Academy and other associations concentrated on the crossroad of sports, education and heartiness purposeful Sports, Hand Club for kiddies, Grace and Peace Review Center and Chicago Fire Foundation.

Hayward is only 33, but he is been around so long and seen so much he looks enough old. The Cubs killed him midway through last season and blazoned he'd be released from the final time of his$ 184 million contract, ending a sticky situation and the coming chapter in his life. The Dodgers called early and frequently this offseason, subscribing him to a minor league contract when it looked like his playing career might be over.

To put it all into perspective, Heyward sat down with The Athletic for a Q&A that is been smoothly edited for length and clarity.

To put it all into perspective, Heyward sat down with The Athletic for a Q&A that is been smoothly edited for length and clarity.

Ron Santo was a great Cubs player, also known for his work with JDRF and WGN Radio. There are families who miss visiting Anthony Rizzo in the sanitarium. What do you want your heritage to be in Chicago?

They see me as an athlete. It's my identity and my donation. But I'm a member of this community. I'm resident. My family, we're veritably proud of him. We want to see people. I'm veritably lucky- for my woman ( Vedrana) and myself to have learned these life assignments from my family members. We just want people to know we are then. We wanted to have an impact – a continuing impact – to bring effects then.

I had the occasion to visit Italy in October 2021, seeing how beautiful the country is. When visiting a megacity like Rome or Florence, it was the simplicity of people walking together and just enjoying the view and simple food or coffee. When I came back to Chicago, I allowed , “ Then he's in Chicago. These are the effects that I loved in Chicago and have come to love indeed more. But also you look at other neighborhoods, the poverty, that do not have some of the openings that are there. You want to bring it closer. We want to enjoy Chicago as much as possible. When you give children more openings like this, you make it easier for parents and guardians.

My son will grow up then. He is going to be at this establishment. We gon' push a football, a baseball, whatever, man

I just want him to see what my parents showed me. Not everyone has( everything), but people have commodity to contribute.

Major League Baseball is facing availability issues. There are times when baseball feels like a country club type game. like the academy