Hope Field, a renovated Wiffle ball field at Annunciation Church and School in Minneapolis, has opened after a summer redevelopment backed by the Minnesota Twins and a group of corporate and community partners.
The project was completed in September, following work that began in June. The Minnesota Twins Community Fund, working with the Pohlad family, Mortenson, HGA, Target, U.S. Bank, The Toro Company and Delta Dental of Minnesota, funded and delivered the improvements.
The field has been redesigned as a shared space for pupils, families and neighbours. Renovations included grading, levelling and resodding the existing ground, as well as a new dirt infield, dugouts, bleachers, a movable outfield fence, scoreboard and upgraded lighting.
HGA designed the project and Mortenson carried out the construction, with support from the Minnesota Twins’ grounds crew. Jimmy Dunn, Annunciation’s director of outreach and community life, previously described the field as central to school life, saying it was used for gym lessons, everyday play and Wiffle ball tournaments.
Hope Field opens at Annunciation
The opening follows a June ceremony at Target Field, where the Twins hosted more than 600 members of the Annunciation community before a game against the Kansas City Royals. Annunciation pupil Endre Gunter threw the ceremonial first pitch, with Twins manager Derek Shelton catching.
The event came as the school and parish continued to recover from the fatal shooting at an all-school Mass on 27 August 2025, in which two pupils were killed and many others were injured.
Annunciation Catholic School principal Matt DeBoer said the newly completed facility had given the community an opportunity to come together again.
“This moment is a very special moment,” DeBoer said. “Today we got to use this beautiful new space to play together again.”
School officials said Hope Field was intended to provide a place for laughter, recreation and connection, while restoring a well-used part of daily life at Annunciation.
