When John and Donna Murphy threw out the first pitch on May 21, 2024, at the new turf baseball field at Saw Mill Road Elementary School, it marked more than just the opening of a facility—it was the fulfillment of a dream born from loss, love, and community strength.
The field, built in honor of Dylan Murphy—who passed away from leukemia at age 12 in September 2018—stands as a tribute to the boy’s love for baseball. A silhouette image of Dylan pitching, displayed inside a white circle with uniform No. 25, was provided by the Marty Lyons Foundation and now adorns the turf in front of the third-base dugout.
The Murphy family spent years rallying community support, raising funds, and working closely with the school district to make the project a reality. Their efforts culminated in a state-of-the-art field where children can enjoy the national pastime—just as Dylan did. The inaugural game brought tears, cheers, and a powerful reminder of what can be accomplished when a community unites for a purpose.
“Seeing the field and then watching the kids play on it for the first time was very emotional,” John Murphy said. “They didn’t play the first game until we came back from vacation, and we threw out the first pitch. It was very gratifying knowing that all of our hard work and energy—mostly what my wife did with the fundraisers—paid off so we can help the community have a nice field for years to come.”
The field was built in just six weeks and cost over $200,000, with the majority of funding coming from the North Merrick–North Bellmore Little League. Area restaurants and businesses also contributed.
Getting to that point wasn’t easy. Because the funding came from the private sector, the Murphys had to consult with lawyers to determine whether the work would be considered prevailing wage—where labor is paid hourly with benefits—or private wage, where workers are compensated based on the entire project.
The process proved to be time-consuming.
“Once we got that figured out, then everything else went pretty smoothly,” John Murphy said.
Although the field is open, the Murphys’ mission isn’t finished. The family is still fundraising to complete several meaningful additions, including a scoreboard, a commemorative garden with a flagpole behind home plate, and a walkway lined with pavers along the third-base side leading to the entrance.
According to John Murphy, the scoreboard will cost about $13,000, and the pavers will run another $30,000—unless local firms donate equipment and labor.
He noted that $140,000 was already raised for the initial project. To continue the effort, the family is hosting the third annual cornhole tournament at Kellenberg High School on August 23. The entry fee is $150 per team of two and includes a barbecue meal and drinks. There will also be raffles and a craft fair.
“The first one was in 2023, before we even started building the field,” John Murphy said. “It was one of our initial fundraisers. A lot of people came out the first year—everyone was excited about getting the field built. We had a big crowd, and people really enjoyed it. As people were leaving, they were like, ‘When are you having it next year?’”
A trunk-or-treat fundraiser is also being planned for October.
Saw Mill Road Elementary is currently undergoing cosmetic renovations, including work on the parking lots and walkways. These updates are causing temporary delays in finalizing the remaining elements of the field. Still, the Murphys remain committed and optimistic. For them, each completed piece brings the project closer to their vision.
And while they’ve received overwhelming support from the community, the Murphys continue to give back through Dylan’s Dream Team Memorial Foundation. The organization’s mission is to support children with cancer and their families by fulfilling promises made to Dylan—providing toys, meals, and scholarships.
They also sponsor students at Kellenberg Memorial High School and have organized numerous fundraisers to deliver meals, Legos, toys, and ice cream to families facing childhood cancer.
Ice cream, in particular, holds a special place in the Murphys’ hearts. Dylan often couldn’t tolerate much food after chemotherapy, but the ice cream soothed him. And knowing that it was always available, brought a sense of routine and normalcy during some tough times.
So, when the family learned last year that both New York Ronald McDonald Houses had their freezers missing, the foundation stepped in to replace them while finding sponsors to provide a month’s worth of ice cream—ensuring other children could enjoy their special treat the same way Dylan did.
Through every pitch thrown, every laugh shared on the field, and every dollar raised, Dylan Murphy’s spirit lives on—not just in the game he loved, but in the kindness and determination his family continues to spread. For the Murphys, the field is more than a tribute; it’s a promise kept, a place where joy grows, and a reminder that even in loss, a community can build something lasting and full of life.
“It makes me feel good that our friends and family and local acquaintances—or people that we didn’t even know who just heard about us—come out to our events to support us,” John Murphy said. “The fact that they’re taking that step to help support us, it makes you feel good that there’s still good in the world.”
