KINGSPORT, TN (WJHL)- In just a few months, the Tri-Cities community raised $1.7 million to build a baseball complex for kids and adults with special needs. The “Miracle League” complex will be the only one in Northeast Tennessee.
There are several leagues in our region for people with disabilities, but there is no field right now that is accessible for wheelchairs, crutches, and other assistive devices. That’s where the Miracle League comes in. Once built it will include a custom designed, rubberized turf field. The plan is to have an entire complex including two baseball fields, a soccer field, a concession stand, and play area.
The Kingsport complex will be next to Brickyard Park. It is expected to serve about 2,000 kids and adults with disabilities from Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia.
“It’s about self-esteem and confidence,” Visit Kingsport Executive Director Jud Teague said. Teague said his son who has Down Syndrome inspired him to bring this league to Kingsport. “He was the main motivation. After he played in some leagues in the past that there are some difficulties with wheelchairs, prosthetics so I feel like the region needed to have this field,” Teague said.
Since announcing this idea a few months ago, community organizations and corporations have jumped on board raising about $1.7 million, according to Teague. Even local nonprofits are pitching in.
“When we heard that the Miracle League was going to allow special needs kids to participate in little league and have the excitement of that just like other kids, it was just right up our alley. We knew we had to do something,” Brenda Barnicki, founder and president of Bellafina Chocolates said.
Bellafina Chocolates makes chocolates in Downtown Kingsport and 100 percent of proceeds go to charity. Bellafina will eventually be walking distance from the new sports complex.
“We saw some information that families are driving 60 or 90 minutes a week and in order for their child to participate in these types of leagues so I think that it will really put Kingsport on the map and bring people in and introduce them to this amazing community that just really has a heart for kids,” Barnicki said.
The Miracle League is free and non competitive. It’s goals are to help kids make new friends, build self-esteem, and make sure the athletes are treated like all other athletes.
Teague said $2 million is needed to finish the first phase of the project. That’s now expected to be done in spring of 2019. He said the entire complex will cost about $3.8 million.
To learn more and see videos on what this league looks like in other places, click here.
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