Miracle Field Centerpiece Of Horsham Park Upgrades

HORSHAM TOWNSHIP, PA —It's their own Field of Dreams.

The Miracle Field of Horsham hopes to be the best one in the country, the president of its non-profit organization says.

And the township's manager hopes the field will serve as the centerpiece for upgrades to Deep Meadow Park.

At a presentation before Horsham Township Council at its meeting last month, Miracle Field representatives pitched their plans so far for a field that is slated to open in the fall of 2024 with a target of September.

William Slaymaker, president of the board of directors for the Miracle Field of Horsham, told the council that the organization has been working over the past six weeks and has raised $1.8 million so far for the field.

"We're really grateful for all the work that you've done for the township and for moving this along," Councilman Sean Wade said.

Through its affiliation with Horsham Little League, the Miracle Field of Horsham will provide opportunities for individuals with cognitive and physical disabilities to play baseball and softball in a safe and inclusive environment where they will find comfort, friendship, and a sense of belonging.

Township Manager Bill Walker said the field will be a crown jewel for the park system.

"It's a wonderful project and just speaks of Horsham and who we are as a community," he said. "We started with Kohler Park and turned it into a dog park. Our second oldest park is Deep Meadow. I said this could be the kickoff of Deep Meadow renovations to bring it into the 22nd century. It's happening. I think it's a good plan here. It has started. It's pretty cool to see this happen with relatively little cost to taxpayers and residents."

Organizers said they talked to other Miracle League Fields in the country to determine what is successful.

In those conversations, they discovered that valet parking would be beneficial to provide easier access to the field and complex for kids with disabilities instead of standard ADA parking.

They also learned that larger field dimensions would allow the field to be more adaptive to multi-purpose use.

The complex would also include three new bathrooms that include one with a shower, an announcer's booth, a dugout and stands on each side, and the sloping of the back of the field so people can watch the action better.

Phase I calls for the building of the field and the outside buildings. Phase II will be a playground area and Phase III will include the snack stands.

Walker said a section of the park will be reforested to replace the trees removed from the field.

Council President Mark McCouch asked what could be built with the money raised at this time.

He was told that the primary focus is on the field with the dugout and stands. stands. But organizers are seeking a field that's bigger than the standard field size, which might boost costs for the extra turf to cover the additional square footage.

"It tackles everyone's unique needs while everyone can still play, this is a baseball field but it is a home for our Little League and bringing them into the fold. I was blown away when I first saw the presentation you have done," Wade said.

In October, the Miracle Field team hosted a fundraiser that netted $35,000. During that event, state Sen. Maria Collett presented the Miracle Field board with a $500,000 state grant.

Walker said the organization is doing a tour of meetings, seeking feedback, comments, and questions with stops before the Horsham Little League Board and the township's Parks and Recreation Board.

He said the plan will be fine-tuned over the winter months with hopes to go out to bid early next year with construction expected to start next spring.