Austin Parks and Recreation will host a community celebration on Saturday, February 28, 2026, marking the renaming of Westenfield Neighborhood Park to Don Baylor Neighborhood Park and unveiling a new interpretive marker honoring Baylor’s life and legacy. The ceremony begins at 10 a.m. at 2008 Enfield Road, with the event taking place outdoors along Winsted Lane and Bridle Path/Sharon Lane. Attendees are encouraged to dress comfortably for the weather.

The dedication recognizes Don Baylor (1949–2017), an Austin native whose achievements on and off the field left a lasting impact on Texas and the nation. Baylor grew up in Clarksville, a historic Texas Freedom Community near the park, at a time when segregation prevented him from playing there as a child. He went on to become one of the first Black students to integrate O. Henry Middle School and later attended Austin High School. Drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 1967, he became one of the first African American players in Texas to be signed directly out of high school.

Baylor’s Major League Baseball career spanned 19 seasons, highlighted by his 1979 American League Most Valuable Player award and a 1987 World Series championship. He later managed the Colorado Rockies and Chicago Cubs, earning Manager of the Year honors in 1995. His influence extended beyond baseball through his advocacy for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and his lifelong membership at Sweet Home Missionary Baptist Church. His induction into multiple halls of fame and his burial at the Texas State Cemetery reflect the breadth of his contributions.

Funding for the interpretive marker was provided by District 10, Austin Parks Foundation, and the Baylor family, underscoring a shared commitment to honoring Baylor’s legacy in the community where his story began.