Toms River Field Of Dreams Holding Wine & Dine Fundraiser

TOMS RIVER, NJ — The Toms River Field of Dreams organization is holding a Wine & Dine on Saturday evening at the RWJ Barnabas Health Arena on the campus of Toms River High School North.

The event is an effort to make one final push to reach the fundraising goal for the project to create a facility for children with special needs. Its centerpiece is a baseball park with basepaths that accommodate wheelchairs, to give kids with special needs the chance to experience playing baseball.

The facility has much more, however, to create a full experience for families. The plans include a state-of-the-art all-inclusive playground, courts for basketball, bocce and shuffleboard. Also planned is a mini golf course, a walking path with rehabilitative fitness stations along its length, a temperature-controlled pavilion, a quiet corner, and a complimentary snack shack, according to the project website.

The project's fundraising goal is $2.2 million for the initial construction.

The Wine & Dine on Saturday runs from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and includes a gift auction, giveaways, special events, raffles and door prizes, There will be live music, guest bartenders and the food will be coming from top local restaurants.

Tickets are $70 per person and can be purchased online.

Christian Kane, the founder of Toms River Field of Dreams, sought to create a facility for special needs children after watching his older son playing Little League baseball and realizing Toms River did not have a baseball field for special needs children like his son, Gavin. Gavin was severely injured in a car accident in 2012 when he was a toddler.

Trees were cleared at the site last March and the facility is in the review process with various boards and agencies. Read more: Touch 'Em All: Toms River Field Of Dreams Construction Nears

Have a news tip? Email karen.wall@patch.com Follow Toms River Patch on Facebook.