Miracle League to break ground

Ballpark, inclusive playground coming to Classic Park

Miracle League of Lake County is set to break ground on the first phase of the Miracle League Ballpark and Inclusive Playground at Classic Park.

The new ballpark will allow special needs kids in Lake and surrounding counties the opportunity to play baseball on an adaptive field designed to accommodate wheelchairs and other assist devices while preventing injuries.

Lake County Captains General Manager Neil Stein describes the anticipation leading up to the groundbreaking scheduled for July 6 as surreal.

According to Stein, the planning and fund raising for the project began a little less than a year ago when three or four people sat down and discussed an idea which has turned into a non-profit group. Now, hundreds of thousands of dollars have been raised.

“It will be a sense of accomplishment just finally seeing that first shovel going into the ground.”

— Lake County Captains General Manager Neil Stein

“It will be a sense of accomplishment just finally seeing that first shovel going into the ground,” he said. “This is actually going to become a reality.”

Lake Health has been the largest contributor to date and helped push the fundraising efforts closer to the goal of $1.2 million with a donation of $175,000, which was presented after the first inning of the June 28 Lake County Captains game.

Lake Health CEO Cynthia Moore-Hardy spoke about community partnerships as she presented the donation.

“This is just another way for us to partner with our community,” she said. “We think it’s important to be involved in projects such as this. There is a health care relationship here and we think that is important.”

Peter Carfagna, chairman/CEO of Magis,LLC, who has family ownership of the Lake County Captains, notes that the ownership group and its matching gift of $100,000 has made them partners in the project and shows just how strongly they feel about this.

Carfagna announced the donation during a Captains’ gamer earlier in the season.

“It’s what the Captains are all about, enriching this community, especially for those where it’s the only place they will be able to do what they want and need to do, and to be able to exercise and play baseball,” Carfagna said. “There is nothing like it anywhere close and that’s really important to making the lives of everybody in the community that much richer.”

Stein said there are many youths with handicaps or special needs in Lake County who want to play ball just like any other kid.

“There are some leagues out there that do offer that for these kids, but not in this manner,” he said. “This Miracle League is going to be able to provide it where every single part of that ball park and that playground is designed specifically for them.”

He also notes that himself, along with the Captains and everyone involved in the planning process are very excited about the project.

“We couldn’t be more excited that thousands of kids not only here in Lake County but Cuyahoga County, Geauga County and Ashtabula County I’m sure at some point will all come here to play at this ball park,” he said.

The groundbreaking will be held 5 p.m. on July 6 at the Lake Health Plaza adjacent to Classic Park, 35300 Vine St.