In Cleveland’s Hough neighborhood at the corner of East 66th and Lexington Avenue sits an abandoned brick building in front of a large open field. This is the only physical remnant of League Park, the ballpark where Cleveland’s professional baseball teams played from 1891 to 1950. For many this space is hallowed ground, rich in baseball history and Cleveland history. But for others it is a vacant space in a community that has suffered with inner city struggles for decades. Aside from an historical plaque, the famed story of the park on the actual site remains untold.
Through the use of ethnographic research, including interviews with current and past residents of Hough, city officials, and other key stakeholders, the story of Hough neighborhood and League Park is explored to determine the need and direction for telling the story of the space, in the space. While the city of Cleveland has plans to renovate the space, there is no clear timetable in place to do so. In the meanwhile, a temporary environmental graphic design installation would serve to connect the community with the historical “jewel” in their midst, while also providing baseball enthusiasts something to engage with when visiting the site.