PAL Breaks Ground at Old Tiger Stadium, Now Willie Horton Field of Dreams

Tiger Stadium has been called a lot of names over the years - Bennett Park, Navin Field, Briggs Stadium...and now the field will be known as the Willie Horton Field of Dreams.

The long journey of this field started a new chapter yesterday, as Detroit PAL broke ground for their new headquarters.

The event had a pretty high profile guest list, including Tigers great Willie Horton, Mayor Mike Duggan, and former Senator Carl Levin, who gave a shout out to the Navin Field Grounds Crew.

Grid View

For the past six years, the Navin Field Grounds Crew has given their time to maintain the park after it was overgrown, and make it a place where people could enjoy a vintage game or remember childhood memories at the ballpark.

There was also a small protest outside the groundbreaking over the turf vs. grass battle. PAL plans to rip up the natural grass and lay down artificial turf.

At the ceremony yesterday, PAL CEO Tim Richey said this will be the first headquarters for PAL, who serves 13,000 kids a year. He said they should be moved in within a year.

• Detroit PAL Secures Funding; Tiger Stadium Redevelopment Starts this Spring [Curbed Detroit]