The Ripken Foundation's Miracle League Field in Vernon, CT has hosted its first official game. Mayor Dan Champagne and the Vernon community gathered at the adaptive athletic field on the campus of Northeast School to celebrate the occasion.
Mayor Champagne, who threw a strike in the ceremonial first pitch, said it was an amazing day. He added, "It's really cool that it's right here in Vernon."
The Youth Development Park was built to be fully accessible to children with disabilities, but is also available for use by Northeast School students. "Everything we do in the Vernon Public Schools is in the best interest of all children," said Superintendent of Schools Joseph Macary. "When this proposal came to me and to the board of education, I immediately thought of our equity stance. How do we make it equitable for all children, in spite of their abilities."
The field features a synthetic turf surface and dugouts that are wheel chair accessible and completely flat and barrier free so that children with visual disabilities can participate.
"This project represents the good that government can achieve with community support," said Champagne. With this field, youth from Vernon, CT and beyond now have a safe and clean place to play and just be a kid.
Check out the Patch's new article here to learn more about the event. To learn more about our Youth Development Park initiative, click here.