DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The city of Daytona Beach is searching for anyone who witnessed a local baseball game featuring Jackie Robinson in 1946.
In a release, city officials announced they are trying to apply for a “National Historic Landmark” (NHL) designation for the local Jackie Robinson Ballpark, located along East Orange Avenue.
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That’s the site where Robinson played his first minor league baseball game on March 17, 1946. The ballpark was originally called the Daytona City Island Ballpark before being renamed in 1990 and later added to the National Register of Historic Places in Robinson’s honor.
According to the National Park Service, sites that are designated as NHLs receive a bronze plaque identifying them as such, and they can be eligible for additional federal funding to maintain them.
In total, Florida has 47 NHLs, with two nearby sites being Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune’s home and the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse.
“NHL nominations require significant research, editing and revision and are reviewed multiple times by nationally recognized scholars, NHL staff and others,” the release reads. “It can sometimes take several years for an eligible property to be designated an NHL.”
As such, the Daytona Beach’s Historic Preservation Board is working to apply for NHL designation of the ballpark, but they could use some help.
To assist with the process, the board is searching for people who watched or remembered Robinson’s 1946 game or the Montreal Royals’ Spring Training visit. According to the city, these sorts of personal memories and experiences could be “invaluable” inclusions in the study required for the application.
To participate, city officials ask that qualifying people contact the board by sending an email to profjoevetter@gmail.com.
There are also efforts to get the ballpark designated as a National Commemorative Site. Reps. Mike Waltz and Darren Soto introduced a bill last month. The bill, if passed, would also direct the U.S. Secretary of the Interior to conduct a feasibility study for the NHL designation.
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