Toms River Field Of Dreams Earns Kane 'Making A Difference' Award

TOMS RIVER, NJ — It started with a desire to help his son get to experience playing baseball like his older siblings. It finished with a $3.5 million complex for those with special needs that welcomes the whole family.

For the efforts to bring his vision of a baseball game for all to the reality that is the RWJ Barnabas Health Field of Dreams, Christian Kane has been named a recipient of the 2023 Russ Berrie Making a Difference award.

The honor includes a $7,500 award to Kane, a math teacher at Toms River High School North and the executive director of the RWJ Barnabas Health Field of Dreams at the Ocean Orthopedic Associates Complex. Kane is one of 11 recipients; they will be honored at a celebration at Ramapo College on May 5.

The complex on North Bay Avenue started as an idea when Christian and Mary Kane were at a baseball game for one of their older sons and realized there was no way for Gavin to participate in a similar activity. It turned into a dream supported by the community and has resulted in a special needs recreation complex to help everyone like Gavin, who did not have the ability to enjoy moments of play with their family and friends at local parks due to poor park accessibility.

Gavin was 19 months old when he suffered a traumatic brain injury on July 12, 2012, when another driver hit Christian's car.

The Kanes began fundraising for the complex, which initially started out small, in 2017. Over time they have added items to address the many challenges that families of children and adults with special needs face.

On April 30, 2022, the complex opened for the first time. At the grand opening, Christian Kane spoke about the effort to bring the dream to reality, and stressed that while he had been the public face, Mary had been involved all the way along, through her commitment to caring for Gavin and through experiences she relayed that shaped the complex.

In its inaugural season, 1,623 families representing every county in New Jersey registered to be members of the complex; the membership program ensures families of children with special needs have access.

There have been 1,471 students from 35 school districts who have taken a field trip to the complex or attended/participated in leagues activities and events; 453 adults and 12 organizations serving adults over the age of 21 with special needs have utilized the complex; 117 athletes with special needs have participated in leagues; 63 events/festivals were hosted on-site; and 5 leagues including flag football, cheer, basketball, baseball, and bocce are currently offered.

The hope, Christian Kane has said, is that the Toms River complex will become a model for complexes in communities all over.