New Hank Aaron Diamonds fields open at four Atlanta public high schools, with broader upgrades planned
Four renovated diamonds debut as citywide high school field upgrades get underway
Four newly upgraded baseball and softball sites at Atlanta Public Schools (APS) high schools are being dedicated this week under the “Hank Aaron Diamonds” initiative, a program intended to modernize playing surfaces and facilities across the district while honoring the legacy of Henry “Hank” Aaron.
The first public dedication highlighted Booker T. Washington High School, where Billye Aaron participated in the ceremony and threw a ceremonial first pitch on February 4, 2026. The Washington campus received a new turf infield for baseball and is also slated to add a softball field.
What was built, and why it matters for scheduling and safety
The initial projects feature artificial turf infields and additional facility improvements designed to create more consistent field conditions. Turf infields can reduce the effects of rain and drainage problems that frequently lead to muddy, uneven playing surfaces and postponed games. APS leaders also described the upgraded fields as an extension of school programming, positioning them as spaces for student development alongside athletics.
The new surfaces are part of a broader plan to rebuild or upgrade infields at all operating APS high schools. The initiative is being financed through the Atlanta Braves Foundation’s Henry Louis Aaron Fund, with additional corporate and institutional support. Organizers have framed the districtwide scope as an effort to standardize field quality so student-athletes across schools can compete under comparable conditions.
Where the first dedications are happening
Dedications during the first week of February have focused on four APS high schools:
- Booker T. Washington High School
- Benjamin E. Mays High School
- Maynard Jackson High School
- North Atlanta High School
District officials and program organizers have said the upgraded campuses are intended to support not only high school competition but also expanded access for younger players through middle school and community-based programming once the broader work is complete.
Timeline and scope of the districtwide plan
The long-range plan calls for new turf infields and other upgrades at APS high school baseball and softball fields. Publicly stated schedules set a targeted completion for the baseball field work by February 2026, aligned with the start of the high school baseball season, with softball-field construction following after the fall 2025 season and expected to be ready for the 2026 high school softball season. Organizers have said all fields are expected to become fully playable within 24 months of the first project start.
“To our coaches and student athletes, this field is for you,” Washington High School Principal Tiauna Crooms said during the dedication ceremony.
For APS, the next phase will be measured by how quickly additional campuses move from planning to construction and whether the promised upgrades translate into fewer weather disruptions and broader participation in baseball and softball across the city.