Congress has approved critical legislation to expand the Great Falls National Historical Park to include Hinchliffe Stadium. Hinchliffe Stadium in Paterson, N.J. is one of the few remaining stadiums in the country associated with Negro League baseball. The New York Black Yankees called this stadium home for 12 seasons.
In 2010, the National Trust for Historic Preservation named Hinchliffe Stadium a National Treasure- where the organization makes a long-term commitment to ensure the protection of the historic sites.
“Today’s Congressional action underscores the value of preserving our nation’s most beloved historic places, and is a significant victory on many fronts,” said Stephanie Meeks, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “While we commend those members of Congress whose leadership resulted in protecting several noteworthy national treasures, we must also acknowledge that portions of the bill will gravely harm both the religious practices and cultural heritage of Native American tribes and the lands they consider sacred.”
“Hinchliffe Stadium represents an irreplaceable piece of our nation’s history,” said Meeks. “Some of our nation’s greatest athletes took to the field there and courageously led the movement to integrate professional sports — and our country as a whole. Inclusion of the stadium within the broader Great Falls National Historical Park system is an important milestone towards the preservation and reuse of this extraordinary sports venue.””