Construction On Regional Special Needs Field Begins In Vernon

VERNON, CT — As advertised, the Miracle League of Northern Connecticut is wasting no time in building a specially designed athletic field for special needs athletes on the campus of Vernon's Northeast School.

Work was in full swing this week. A temporary construction driveway has been cut on Route 30. The goal is to have the field serving the region by the fall. The field is being constructed at Northeast School by the Miracle League of Northern Connecticut in partnership with the town of Vernon and the Cal Ripkin Sr. Foundation and a host of local sponsors.

Vernon officials signed off on the use of Northeast School last June and in February, the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation and the Miracle League of Northern Connecticut announced a partnership to put the finishing touches on the project.

More than $900,000 has been raised for the field.

The park will accommodate lacrosse, baseball and softball programs as well as soccer.

The Miracle League Youth Development Park will be a custom-made, cushioned, synthetic turf to help prevent injuries and include wheelchair-accessible dugouts and a flat, barrier free surface to provide accessibility for visually impaired players, players in wheelchairs or other assistive equipment.

There are roughly 270 adaptive fields across the country and two others in Connecticut (West Hartford and East Lyme).