Community hits home run for inclusive baseball facility

Sept. 8 was a day for celebration when, after nearly two years of construction, the Miracle League of Northwest Ohio concession facility opened in Brentwood Park in Northwood.

The Miracle League of Northwest Ohio is a non-profit providing an opportunity for individuals of all abilities to play baseball.

"We want to give our athletes the chances and opportunities that other kids have. Our youngest players start off at the age of four, and they can continue to play for as long as they like,” states a press release.

To provide extra support on the field, each Miracle League player is paired up with a volunteer “buddy” during the games. The abilities of our players vary, but these buddies make the experience of playing baseball very enjoyable for everyone. 

The new fully accessible concession facility provides an enhanced experience for those with special needs.

Planning for the project began in 2017 when Miracle League determined the necessity to upgrade their facilities from an ADA porta-potty and concession shed to a permanent and welcoming concession structure – one that offers shelter and a sense of independence for their players. 

It was through this desire to provide better that the design team stepped up to the plate with a pro-bono collaboration between Engage Studio Architects and SSOE Group, who continued service through construction.

The vision turned to reality, first with the construction of the shell through State of Ohio grant funding and the City of Northwood. 

AA Boos, Mondo Mechanical and Kyle Sherman Excavating worked together to construct the exterior of the facility with donated masonry block from Kuhlman and Habitat ReStore. With the shell built, it was time to look toward the interior.

Several community partners stepped in to assist with funding for the building. The Ability Center helped to attain accessible toilet accessories and partitions, while KeyBank, Walmart and ProMedica provided funding, which was used for resurfacing the field and purchasing doors, hardware and fixtures. 

With limited funding to complete the building entirely, the non-profit Miracle League looked to the Northwest Ohio Building Trades for help, and they “came to the plate swinging, said Erin Curley, architect and Miracle League board member. 

“The inside of the building was completed with volunteer labor and funding contributions by the Northwest Ohio Building Trades,” Curley said. “The building is open today due to their dedicated efforts and generous contributions.”

The facility is open and currently being used by the players of the Miracle League. The community is invited to a grand opening celebration for the concession stand, and to watch a game or two Sunday, Oct. 3 at 12:30 p.m. at the Miracle League Field, 2120 Tracy Rd., Northwood (Brentwood Park). Games run from 1 p.m. through approximately 5 p.m. 

Contact Curley at ecurley@engagestudioarch.com or 419-693-4647 for more information. Details, and a full list of participating project partners, is available at mlnwo.org.

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