PRESS
RELEASE
August 17, 2006
MIRACLE LEAGUE BASEBALL FIELD
The county’s first
baseball field designed specifically for kids
with disabilities.
The Miracle League of Westchester, is looking for volunteer “buddies” to assist
players during games. Each “buddy” gets matched up with a player and
makes sure they both have fun and nobody gets hurt.
“I urge county residents of all ages to step forward as volunteers and help make the ‘Miracle’ a reality,” County Executive Andy Spano said. “This is a chance to help a child experience a wonderful pastime they may never have had a chance to do before. Middle school and high school students could find this a great way to fulfill service requirements and serve their community.”
J. Stephen Madey, executive director of the Miracle League of Westchester, said “buddies,” also known as “angels in the outfield,” are volunteers who assist players one-on-one during games. They can range in age from elementary school students to senior citizens.
The job of a “buddy” is to protect their assigned player from injury while at the same time allowing the player as much freedom as possible. “Buddies” should be spirited, enthusiastic, concerned and have the ability to motivate and cheer their player and the team.
Miracle Field is a custom-designed field with a cushioned, rubberized turf to help prevent injuries, wheelchair-accessible dugouts and a completely flat, barrier-free surface to ease access for visually impaired players or players in wheelchairs. The Miracle League is a non-profit organization which serves children ages 3-19 who have any physical or mental disability that would exclude them from conventional youth leagues. The league is free and non-competitive.
The $525,000 cost of the field came from the county’s Legacy Program, a Spano initiative that works to preserve parkland.
“The Miracle Field has been built to be safe and easily accessible for players with physical impairments, and at the same time it’s a very attractive addition to Ridge Road Park,” Spano said. “I look forward to the first games and watching the players bring this extraordinary facility to life.”
The
field’s grand opening and the launch of the Miracle League took
place on Saturday, September 9, 2006
Anyone with an interest in volunteering or in playing on a Miracle League team should log on to www.mlwny.org or call (914) 813-8007.
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Joseph A. Stout,
Commissioner