Prior Lake Athletics for Youth - Miracle League

There is something about playing the game that lights up a youngster’s eyes.  But for children facing serious physical and mental disabilities that opportunity can often be difficult to achieve.  Baseball diamonds weren’t exactly designed with wheelchairs and crutches in mind.

The Miracle League removes the barriers that keep children with mental and physical disabilities off the baseball field and lets them experience the joy of America’s favorite pastime. Since the main barriers for these children arise from the natural grass fields used in conventional youth leagues, Miracle League teams play on a custom-designed, rubberized turf field that accommodates wheelchairs and  other assertive devices while helping to prevent injuries.

But it’s more than playing a game. The Miracle League is about making new friends, building self-esteem and being treated just like other kids.  To help the athletes, the Miracle League uses a “buddy” system – pairing each player with an able-bodied peer.  The result is a bond that cannot be described. The Miracle League serves children who suffer from any physical or mental disabilities, which causes them to be excluded, whether intentionally or not, from conventional youth Baseball leagues and other recreational activities. According to the 2020 Census Bureau, there are 26 million Children in our country who have disabilities.

The first Miracle League field opened in Conyers, Georgia in April 2000.  Word spread and by 2002, fields opened in South Carolina, Alabama, West Virginia, Illinois, and California. There are  presently 350 plus Miracle League Organizations across the country including Puerto Rico, Canada, and Mexico over 450,000 children and young adults participating.

Prior Lake Athletics For Youth (P.L.A.Y.) is looking to bring a Miracle League field and upgraded playground to Thomas Ryan Memorial Park and offer recreational opportunities to an underrepresented group of players and families in the southwest metro and surrounding area. Through community support and partnerships, this project can be realized.

Facebook - https://facebook.com/playmiracleleague

Project updates - https://playinfo.org/miracleleague