The City of Murfreesboro and  David Price’s Project One Four are teaming together to bring a Miracle Field to Murfreesboro. The field will be located at the front of McKnight Park.
There is something about playing the game that lights up a personâs eyes. But for children and adults facing serious physical and mental disabilities that opportunity can often be difficult to achieve. Baseball diamonds werenât exactly designed with wheelchairs and crutches in mind.
The Miracle League removes the barriers that keep children with mental and physical disabilities off the baseball field and lets them experience the joy of Americaâs favorite pastime. Since the main barriers for these adults arise from the natural grass fields used in conventional leagues, Miracle League teams play on a custom-designed, rubberized turf field that accommodates wheelchairs and other assertive devices while helping to prevent injuries.–MPRD
But itâs more than playing a game. The Miracle League is about making new friends, building self-esteem and being treated just like other athletes. To help the athletes, the Miracle League uses a âbuddyâ system â pairing each player with an able-bodied peer. The result is a bond that cannot be described. The Miracle League serves children and adults who suffer from any physical or mental disabilities, which causes them to be excluded, whether intentionally or not, from conventional Baseball leagues.
Our project specifically incorporates a variety of features within the Miracle Field Complex. The Miracle Field itself includes a covered seating area, restroom building, and concession building. Other features include a standard baseball/softball field, an open synthetic turf area containing a timed 20-yard dash track, and an inclusive playground. The latter is a special playground system that includes equipment that enables play for all abilities (e.g. a teeter-totter for wheel chairs).
The complex also includes a main plaza with a central kugel ball water feature (the sphere is a representative of a baseball with David Price’s signature) and two donor walls.  Additionally, the complex includes picnic tables and benches throughout.
During the groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday, Architectural & Engineering consultant Lose and Associates will provide details at a noon luncheon on proposed design and layout of the new $2.2 million complex planned for the southwest corner of Memorial Boulevard and DeJarnette Lane to invited guests.
Murfreesboro Native Gives Back
David Price, a Murfreesboro, Tenn. native, began playing baseball in his diaper days and he hasnât put down the ball since. Price grew up loving the game, cheering on the Atlanta Braves, and dreaming of meeting Braves three time All-Star David Justice.
Price started impressing the athletic community as a standout on the Blackman High School baseball and basketball teams. He walked away from Blackman with dozens of awards and honors, including three time Rutherford County Male Athlete of the Year and a spot on the High School All-America team in 2004, as well as an offer to sign a MLB contract from the Los Angeles Dodgers. But he didnât sign just yet.
Instead he chose to attend Vanderbilt University on an athletic scholarship, where he would eventually become one of the nationâs top strikeout pitchers, help the US earn a gold medal in the World University Championship in Cuba and be recognized as the most decorated baseball player in Vanderbiltâs history.
The left handed Cy Young award winner just signed a 7 year contract with the Boston Red Sox.
About Project One Four :Â
Project One Four is a charitable organization dedicated to making a difference in the lives of youth. Our efforts focus on supporting community programs and organizations that promote growth in youth through learning life skills in a safe supportive environment. It is based in Murfreesboro.
