Miracle Field Construction Slated For This Summer In Vernon

VERNON, CT — Construction on a special field for special needs athletes in Vernon that is to serve the region is set to begin once school gets out for the summer.

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.

Steve Leibowitz of the Miracle League said a ground-breaking is tentatively scheduled for June 16 with work 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.

More than $800,000 has ben raised to pay for the project.

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 national foundation will construct the park and stay engaged through programming after the park is open, according to the announcement.

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).

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

The artificial turf field will be designed for special needs athletes to play sports like softball and baseball, lacrosse and soccer safely.