Ground Broken For Regional Adaptive Sports Complex In Vernon

VERNON, CT — As evidenced by the large turnout for Thursdays ground-breaking ceremony, Vernon's Northeast School seems to be the right location for a regional special needs athletic field.

The field will be constructed at Northeast School by the Miracle League of Northern Connecticut in partnership with the town of Vernon and the Cal Ripkin Sr. Foundation. Area businesses like The Barn Yard, Earthlight and Kloter Farms have also made major contributions, along with local plumbers and contractors.

In all, about $900,000 has been raised.

Steve and Laurel Leibowitz of the Miracle League of Northern Connecticut said the process over the past year has been "overwhelming."

Vernon Mayor Daniel Champagne called the location "perfect" and added he wanted to host the field. Vernon Superintendent of schools Joseph Macary said is fits the school systems's mission of unity and inclusion.

"Let's everyone play," Macary said. "We will now have a field on which anyone can participate in an athletic event."

In addition to Miracle League events, the field will host games for Rockville High School's Unified Sports program and adaptive physical education classes in the school system, Macary said.

Work on the field is slated to begin on June 19. A temporary driveway has been fashioned off Route 30 to accommodate construction vehicles. It will be removed once the project is finished, officials said.

The goal is to finish the field by the start of the 2023-24 school year.

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 Thursday announced a partnership to put the finishing touches on the project.

The Miracle League Youth Development Park will accommodate lacrosse, baseball and softball programs as well as soccer. The field will consist of custom-made, cushioned, synthetic turf to help prevent injuries and include fully 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).

The park in Vernon will be a regional home to the Miracle League.