Cleveland Indians
Heritage Park at Jacobs Field
In summary, The Cleveland Indians have an opportunity to build a shrine to their heritage, and baseball in general.
Heritage Park at Jacobs Field
The Heritage Park-Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame at Jacobs Field is a project that has been in development since the ballpark opened in 1995. The location was always an issue until now.
The site of the project is in the centerfield terraced picnic area, also known as the “batter’s eye” zone. Because of Major League Baseball’s mandate to provide an unobstructed view of the batter’s field of vision behind the pitcher, this area is vacated at game time.
The Indians’ wish to use this area for the Hall of Fame posed many challenges. The key ideas for the success of the project are as follows:
| 1 | Context - was the inspiration for the trellis structures and monument stones of the Hall of Fame. The “language” of Jacobs Field, with its articulate steel structure, expressive volumes and coloration, form an undeniable palette to draw from. |
| 2 | The Screen Wall Strategy - is to provide “primary” natural materials (evergreen hedges) to soften and screen the outer edges of the existing terraced areas, while using artificial (metal) screen walls as a second screening device. Also, the idea of embellishing this nascent garden space is an underlying concept. |
| 3 | Memorial Space - is also a primary objective to the scheme. By using an iconic (round) shape for the upper terrace, historical precedent is applied. This form contrasts the rectilinear character of Jacobs Field, thus creating a bridge between sacred places and baseball as an historic game. |
In summary, The Cleveland Indians have an opportunity to build a shrine to their heritage, and baseball in general.
