Field of dreams coming to life in Plymouth

Where now there's nothing but a field behind Central Middle School in Plymouth by August there will be a baseball field, concession stands, bathrooms -- all of it creating a special place for special needs kids who want to play sports but don't have a place to do it.

The Miracle League of Plymouth is building the $1.1-million park and broke ground on it last week. Hundreds of small donations and major contributions, including a $250,000 grant from the state, are making the Miracle League park happen. The Rotary Club of Plymouth sponsors the Miracle League.

Deb Madonna, co-chair of the Plymouth Miracle League, says a park like this complements and adds to the local fairs, markets, shows, and special events that bring people out into the community.
 
Most importantly it lets the families of special needs children "hear the answer yes for once," when they ask to let their children join in, says Madonna, who co-chairs with Bob Bilkie, whose family's Bilkie Family Foundation recently gave $150,000 for the naming rights of the park: Bilkie Family Park.

Plymouth's Miracle League field will be one of several in Michigan, including one in Southfield, which draws visitors from the region and beyond, and one in Mid-Michigan that is expected to open in June.

The project means a 20-year lease of the land to the league by the school district and at least half a million dollars to build the field and grounds.

"It's perfect use for this land, and the impact on the community is huge, especially in these economic times," Madonna says. "This is a private-public partnership to say, 'Hey come to Plymouth,' like you say, 'Come to Michigan, it's huge'"

"And then there's the whole other level of what it does for these families who many times are traipsing who know where to find some kind of therapeutic outlet for their child. We want those parents to know we did this for their children. This was first and foremost in our mind. There was no other purpose for this project except to have kids out there playing baseball."

Source: Debra Madonna, co-chair Plymouth Miracle League
Writer: Kim North Shine