Nationals break ground on baseball academy

The Nationals Youth Baseball Academy in Fort Dupont Park broke ground Tuesday morning, finally fulfilling a promise the team made to the city more than six years ago. Construction of the academy was made possible last June when the National Capital Planning Commission approved the transfer of 15 acres of federal parkland from the National Park Service to the District.

Construction is funded through $10.2 million from the District, without which Nats officials said it wouldn’t be possible to break ground this year. The Washington Nationals are donating $3.5 million for construction and operating costs and will manage the academy year-round.