Miracle League builds new concession stand with help from Gulf Coast Builders Exchange

For 10 Saturdays every spring, America’s favorite pastime is alive and well at Longwood Park in Sarasota.

The park is home to the Miracle League of Manasota, a nonprofit organization that gives children with disabilities in Sarasota and Manatee counties the chance to play baseball.

“A lot of the kids go to bed on Friday wearing their jerseys, knowing the next day is game day,” said Dan Tellor, Miracle League of Manasota president.

This March marks the organization’s ninth season. When it started, there were 54 players and four teams. Today, there are 184 players and 12 teams.

The big growth meant the players needed better facilities. With the support of the community, the organization built a synthetically surfaced baseball field. Then they began the second phase of the project – building a permanent concession stand with accessible restrooms.

For years, they had to make do with a small portable, but on March 11, Miracle League of Manasota celebrated the big improvement of a brand new concession building with restrooms.

The building was constructed with help from several Gulf Coast Builders Exchange members who donated and reduced the cost of materials and labor.

“Anything we ever asked for, they said, ‘Yeah, we can take care of it,’” Tellor said. “Without the donations from the contractors, this wouldn’t have happened.”

The contractors and subcontractors who helped with the project were invited to the grand opening celebration, where about two dozen people gathered for a speech of thanks from Tellor, photos and refreshments.

“Miracle League of Manasota provides a great service for the community,” said Jason Wilson, vice president of Crowley Services, Inc., a Gulf Coast Builders Exchange member. “They’re providing something that’s needed, and we’re glad to help.”

Soon Miracle League of Manasota will install a plaque on the Wall of Fame to acknowledge the many individuals and companies who made the new building possible.

And once shouts of “play ball!” begin, the concession stand will be staffed by Community Haven, an organization just down the road that serves children, teenagers and adults with disabilities.

“On Saturday, I wake up and I say, ‘It’s game day!” Tellor said. “It’s great. You’ve got to come out here and experience the Miracle League of Manasota”