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Breaking Ground on "Field of Dreams"
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The Miracle League of the Triangle and the Wake County Public School System broke ground on the Triangle's first "Field of Dreams" at Adams Elementary School in Cary yesterday. Wake County Board of Education Chair Patti Head and Adams Elementary School Principal Doug Hooper were on hand to help a few future baseball players turn dirt and expressed their thanks for being able to partner with the Miracle League.
With the motto "Every Child Deserves a Chance to Play Baseball," the Miracle League was created to ensure all children -- regardless of their abilities -- are able to play the game. In the League, each ballplayer wears a uniform and baseball cap, gets to bat and circle the bases to score a run each inning, and is paired with a buddy from the community. If the player isn't able to connect with a pitch, he hits the ball off a tee. There's even a special ball if the child is blind.
The site will include a custom-designed field with a rubberized synthetic turf to help prevent injuries and to eliminate any barriers to wheelchair-bound or visually impaired players. Wheelchair accessible dugouts and restrooms, a concession stand, and grandstand bleachers are also included in the plan. Completion of the new field is supposed to coincide with the opening day of Major League Baseball in April 2006.
There is no cost to the school system. The Miracle League is funding the construction and ongoing operations of the field, as well as relocating Adams' existing playfield and walking track.
To bring the touching event to a close, one little boy, Shane Dittmar, led everyone in a rousing rendition of Take Me Out to the Ball Game.
Posted by Kristin Flenniken at 11:08 AM on February 21, 2006 | Leave Feedback
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