After months of Ayala Park’s renowned batting cages being closed, ballplayers were delighted to hear of a reopening that featured new pitching machines, refurbishments, and a celebration to welcome everyone back.
Besides the soccer fields, baseball fields, a recreational center, playgrounds, and so many more alluring Chino’s residents, many fail to acknowledge Ruben S. Ayala Park’s batting cages, located just off Edison Avenue and 12th Street. Despite only being implemented 5 years ago, the cages have hosted thousands of baseball and softball players eager to improve their game. It includes 14 pitching machines with speeds up to 85 MPH (Miles Per Hour) for baseball, fast-pitch, and slow-pitch softball. The cages run on tokens, with each token granting 15 pitches or a selected amount of time, 15-60 minutes.
Up until their refurbishment period, the machines finally started to show their sign of decay. In September of last year, over half of the pitching machines were out of commission with no visitors in sight. This all changed upon the approval of a city vote, Measure V. This measure was a 1% sales tax increase implemented by Chino voters overwhelmingly back in March 2024. This was done to generate over $28 million a year for the city, helping stabilize city finances and protect city programs from being eliminated. Apart from the cage improvements, Measure V was set to fund upgrades at Ayala Park’s softball fields. The makeover includes new bullpens, shaded dugouts, fencing, and other key enhancements to better the viewer’s and players’ experiences.
Even though it took some time for the money to come around, Ayala Park’s cages closed down in October last year for refurbishments that were designed to improve essentially everything, from the pitching machines, new netting, improved lighting, and more, so players can keep doing what they love: hitting. Finally, after just five months of implementation, the cages reopened on March 25. To celebrate the new cages, the city provided free hot dogs and play time for any hitter who showed up. The celebration reflected the true spirit of baseball, showing it’s more than just the game itself, it’s the community that it can bring together.
With new improvements at Ayala Park’s batting cages, more hitters have flocked in to test out these alluring refinements at one of the city’s only public batting cages. Looking at all the improvements for other parts of Ayala Park can highlight the city’s continuing priority to upgrade and replenish the beauty of Chino.
