Little League Field In Newark Dedicated To Longtime Community Leader

NEWARK, NJ — A longtime community leader in Newark now has a field that bears his name.

Last weekend, Essex County and Newark officials gathered to dedicate the “Houston Stevens Little League Field” in Essex County Ivy Hill Park in Newark in honor of its namesake, a longtime leader of the Ivy Hill Neighborhood Association who has partnered with Essex County to revitalize the local park.

Stevens has helped to spearhead a range of youth recreation programs and community activities in the park, which recently saw a $3.6 million project to update its recreation facilities. Read More: New Athletic Field, Upgrades Coming To Ivy Hill Park In Newark

“I am overwhelmed by the praise being heaped upon me,” Stevens said during a dedication ceremony on Saturday.

“While my name may be up there on that scoreboard, and I am very grateful for this honor, it’s not about me,” Stevens added. “It’s about all of us – because I didn’t do any of this by myself.”

A plaque placed at the field that honors Stevens’ contributions to the community begins with a quote by Coretta Scott King: “The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.”

The plaque continues:

“A life-long labor and community activist, Houston Stevens joined the Ivy Hill Neighborhood Association in 1994 to help improve and strengthen the community in which he lived. Under the leadership of Mr. Stevens, the grassroots organization formed partnerships with Ivy Hill and Mt. Vernon Elementary Schools and Seton Hall University to create a variety of academic enrichment, mentoring and employment programs to benefit youth, and with the City of Newark to combat and reduce incidents of crime. In addition, the IHNA obtained over $3 million in grant funding to help Essex County modernize athletic fields, update recreation facilities and revitalize Essex County Ivy Hill Park. Mr. Stevens also was instrumental in bringing youth baseball, soccer and basketball programs to Ivy Hill Park and helped create and organize the long-running Ivy Hill International Food and Music Festival to highlight the cultural and ethnic diversity of the community. Naming the Little League Field in honor of Mr. Stevens is a fitting tribute to someone who has dedicated his public life to helping our youth and empowering the Ivy Hill community.”

Several local officials and community leaders congratulated Stevens and had kind words for his many contributions to the neighborhood. They included:

State Senator Renee Burgess – “I am not surprised by this honor. Houston is a great man inside and out and truly cares about his community.”

Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. – “Houston and the Ivy Hill Neighborhood Association have been partnering with Essex County to continually improve Essex County Ivy Hill Park for over two decades. Our relationship has benefitted our residents because as we updated facilities, Houston organized programs and activities and helped build community spirit and pride. Houston’s legacy always has been about enhancing quality of life, strengthening the bonds in the neighborhood and providing for children. Naming the field in his honor will remind future generations of Houston’s many contributions.”

Newark West Ward Councilman Dupree Kelly – “Houston is an example of someone who makes things happen for the community. Having his name on this field means something. It tells you about his character and type of person he is.”

Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura – “Today could not have happened to a nicer individual.”

Thomas Ellis, Ivy Hill Neighborhood Association baseball program – “The impact that Houston has had on the community is everlasting. I thank him for his vision.”

Hugo Pierre, Ivy Hill Neighborhood Association’s soccer program – “Three years ago, Houston asked me to create a soccer program for children and he told me not worry, that a soccer field would be built in the park. Today that dream is coming true.”

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