Miracle League Spring Games - 2025

 

Ground Breaking on final phases

Construction has begun on phases 2 and 3 of the Miracle Park!!!  It is on track to open early 2026.

Today we celebratied with athletes, friends, donors, elected officials, Winthrop and MaxAbilities staff, and the Lt. Governor of SC!  We heard from Representative Heath Sessions about what the park means to him and his family as a dad of two boys that have different abilities, Warren Norman, developer and what's to come, President Edward Serna on the connections with Winthrop, Mayor John Gettys spoke about how the park benefits the people of Rock Hill and beyond, and US Representative Ralph Norman invited us to come together to break the ground to start to build the final phases!

Lucas McFadden with CN2 was there to capture the day.  

Miracle Park Ground Breaking 2025 - Final Phases

PRT - David Boone Advisory Award

 Our Executive Team was recently honored by The City of Rock Hill's Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Department at their annual Volunteer Dinner. This is what they had to say about our team:

This committee and its partners has imagined, fundraised, developed and built Miracle Park phase one which opened in September of 2021. In 2022, they have continued to fundraise and plan for phase two. They have put their hearts, soul and hard work into making Miracle Park not only a dream but a reality that has become a destination for families, seniors and youth of all abilities.

In 2016, one of these members traveled to Greenville to watch his nephew play in a Miracle League game. That was the inspiration he needed to come back and discuss with family and friends his idea of building a miracle field in Rock Hill. Having grown up playing sports and now with his children being involved in sports he knew Rock Hill needed a field for athletes of all abilities to play. It didn’t take long for them to begin the implementation of this idea. Connections were made and others jumped at the chance to be involved in something so great. A committee was formed…a builder, a developer, a fundraiser, community leaders…a meeting was held with York County disabilities foundation members, sports commission members, city staff members, more community leaders and from there, the possibilities continued. The idea was brought forth to put the field on property that already held a city park. Additionally, Winthrop University was approached about the adjacent property. Through many discussions and meetings and nearly a year later, a public/ private partnership was formed.

Years later and millions of dollars raised, this field became not just a field but an entire park. Through so many efforts, the first phase included an all-inclusive playground with innovative play equipment, restrooms, an office and concessions building, a multi-purpose field and of course the Miracle Field. This group made sure to go beyond the norm and complete the requirements needed to be awarded universal design standards. The second and third phases are being planned and will be just as exciting as the first.

The park has thousand of visitors a month. From Miracle League, Benji Ball, youth softball games, playground time, story time, the Book Mobile, kite flying, kickball, many more events and programs the park is busting at the seams. If you have been there, you know. What a wonderful sight!!

This committee has worked tirelessly to host events and fundraisers to benefit the park. They have been instrumental in getting the community involved throughout the whole process. Their dedication and time has been one that has built a place where everyone belongs and no matter your ability…you have a place to play.

I’d like to present the David Boone Advisory Award to the Miracle Park Executive Committee. This committee includes David Williams, Alice Davis, Warren Norman, Kennedi Christopher, Kylie Carroll, John Taylor, Michelle Schaffer, Sig Huitt and Jack Leitner.

We are very thankful to the PRT team for all they do for Miracle Park and are honored to accept this award!

Terry Hagen - Recreation Programmer, City of Rock Hill

As you start to visit the Miracle Park and have questions you will most likely meet Terry.  She is coordinating the Miracle League and other sports out at the park for the City of Rock Hill's Parks, Recreation, and Tourism department.  Read her story below to learn more about this wonderful woman and how it's always been her dream to allow all people the opportunity to play together even since she was a little girl! 

Terry Hagen - Recreation Programmer

When I was little, my family moved to SC from New York.   My parents sent me to a church day camp one summer and there was a staff member who brought her daughter Denise to work with her.  Denise was much older than the campers but played with us and was very childlike. One day it was raining and for some reason we had our shoes off, and Denise needed help buckling her sandals.  When I realized that she didn’t know how to buckle her shoes, I spent the whole afternoon teaching her to buckle her own sandals.  She was SO happy when she finally did it on her own.  

When I got home, I asked my parents about her, they explained what Down Syndrome was and, in that conversation, I learned that when I was a young child, my father was a Special Education teacher at the inner-city schools.   I remember him being a teacher but didn’t know too much about his class because I was so young.   When we moved to South Carolina, he gave up teaching, so it never came up until I met Denise.  

After that summer, I began elementary school and our class had to walk past the Special Education class to get to the playground.  This was the very first day of school I asked the teacher why they couldn’t play too.   The response was something along the lines of “that’s the Special Ed class.”   It made me sad to see those children watch us go by and not be able to play too.   Then the next year, some of the classrooms moved and the Special Ed class was now in a room that had a window that looked out to the playground.  I hated seeing them watch us and not be able to join us.  I always remembered that and never understood why they couldn’t join us. 

At some point, the teachers must’ve been tired of my questions and they allowed me to “volunteer” in that class during recess one day a week.  That led to volunteering with Special Olympics as a teenager and I never stopped.

Flash forward several years and I had to get a “summer job” so I began working in a group home for adults with developmental disabilities.  I was 19 years old, and I worked 2-10pm Monday through Friday.   I took those women EVERYWHERE!    I absolutely fell in love and working with people with disabilities became my life.   Flash forward 34 years and I am still working with some of the same people I worked with at 19.  

I’ve worked in group homes, day programs, case management and recreation.  In each job, my motto has always been “Why can’t they do it too?”   Now, I get to make some of those why’s a reality.

July 23 update

 

The park is coming along very nicely and it's so great to see it greening up!  Stay tuned for more information on when you can come and play! 

$700,000 from the Panthers!

Today, as we were expecting to celebrate a $200,000 grant from the Carolina Panthers Charities we were surprised with an additional $500,000 from the Nicole and David Tepper Foundation!  Not only will these funds help us to build a multi-purpose field, but it will also include the Teppers and Panthers being a partner with us and helping us to find great success in the Miracle Park programming!  The Grand Opening date, August 21, was also set from 5-9pm.  

Go Panthers!!!  Welcome to Rock Hill!

 We are happy to add these two groups to our major donors list!  Thank you to all our donors!  We have now raised about $5.5 million of the $6.5 million needed for Phase 1 and a portion of Phase 2 (multi-purpose field)!

Playground Features

Want to learn more about some pieces at our playground being installed this fall and how they can benefit all that use them? Click below to learn about individual pieces.

Merry-go-ALL

RoxALL SeeSaw

The Arch Swing

Sensory Spinner

Swings

The Yalp Sona

The Yalp Memo

Musical Elements

Outdoor Exercise Equipment

Zip Line your way!

Sensory Cove Climber

The Inclusive Whirl

The Sensory Dome

Want to see a full video overview of the playground and park? This is dated, but the playground hasn't changed much.

A big thanks and shout out to Comporium who is helping fund the playground to make this unique, one-of-a-kind playground happen in Phase One!

Once it's open the City of Rock Hill's PRT department will operate and maintain this facility as they do the other city parks! Thank you Rock Hill, we are blessed to live in a city that supports ALL people with ALL abilities!

A Park for ALL...yes you!

This REALLY a park for ALL (yes YOU)...We've explained how important it is to remove barriers for those with special needs and mobility issues, and we've often said it will be a park for ALL! We really mean that....Keep reading to hear how we've designed the park for everyone and what sports will be programmed at the park Spring 2021!!

    Miracle Park is an inclusive park, so we have made special efforts to look at all parts of the park with a focus on accessibility for those with different abilities. We have featured future athletes who need these accommodations because too often these folks are excluded in our society (both intentionally and unintentionally), or are an afterthought when places are built since most buildings and parks are constructed to MINIMUM accessibility requirements, which are still inaccessible to some. Because of this, we have showcased the aspects of our park that set us apart from other parks due to our Universal Design. 

Universal Design | Progressive AE

HOWEVER, we want to be sure to reiterate that this is not a "special needs park;" that defeats the purpose of it being inclusive!  

We want EVERYONE to come visit and play at Miracle Park. Our state of the art playground does have special pieces that have been designed so that people with many different needs can play. However, we also have traditional swings, slides, and zip lines for typically developing 

folks. The walking trails and air resistance strength training equipment will be great for adults and seniors looking to stay in shape while listening to the laughter of children.  

We want to create a space where everyone can play TOGETHER!  

The fields will host activities for ALL. We will have one traditional field on which Rock Hill Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Department will continue to schedule Little League and softball games.  We will have multi-purpose fields for flag football, baseball, basketball, soccer, and more. Until those fields are finished, we can use the Miracle field for these sports when it's not softball/baseball season. ALL Miracle League games will have buddies, which are typically developing peers who partner with a friend with different abilities.

Speaking of buddies, Jayden Carroll and Brodie Kennedy from Northwestern High School have told their stories about being a buddy already, they are looking forward to the opening of Miracle Park so that they will finally have a place outside of school to hang out with ALL of their friends! 

We will also have a shelter at the playground and areas near the concession stand where you can host birthday parties for ALL of your friends without wondering if someone can get there due to mobility needs. Miracle Park will truly be a park for ALL!  

Please consider how the park will benefit your friends and family, and if you can, DONATE to help ensure all of Phase 1 is constructed by the end of this year!

PRT on what Miracle Park will look like once it's open...

PRT is a major part of the Miracle Park and will not only operate and maintain the park once it's built, but they have also financially supported it through their generous foundation!  A BIG thanks to PRT for making this dream become a reality! 

Guest Blogger:  Garnet Mckeown

Recreation Division SupervisorParks, Recreation, and Tourism City of Rock Hill

The crack of a bat...the laughter of children...the screams of excitement...that’s what you will hear when you visit Rock Hill Miracle Park. Rock Hill Parks, Recreation and Tourism (PRT) is excited to see the construction happening at the park. Rock Hill PRT will program and maintain the park, and we look forward to welcoming families and children of all abilities to enjoy everything it will offer. The park will feature an inclusive playground, Miracle Fields with synthetic turf, multi‐purpose grass fields, a picnic and concession area and in the final phase, a retail operation for use by people of all abilities.

While visiting the park, you will see school groups and sports teams using the park. Families picnicking, playing, riding bikes and exercising. We anticipate a 2021 Spring Miracle League will be held at the park. Registration will begin in January of 2021. PRT youth sports and Special Olympic sports will be able to hold practices and games in the park. Exercise and leisure programs for any ability such as walking, yoga, playground games and more will be held. Miracle Park will be a regular site for PRT’s mobile recreation program REC in a Box. The summer will be a great time for camps to visit the park, and on weekends you will hear the cheer of the crowd at a game or enjoy a special event. For more information, feel free to contact Rock Hill Parks, Recreation and Tourism at 803‐329‐5620.

We look forward to seeing you there and all of the fun the park will bring. Don’t forget your peanuts and cracker jacks!!  

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Soccer game at the Miracle League of Las Vegas.

Baseball being played at Miracle League of Las Vegas 

It takes funding for this to happen!  It's a private/public partnership.  Can you help?  We still need $4,000,000 for phases 2-3 which include the 2nd field, two multipurpose fields, golf, and fishing.  Please donate today: https://www.miracleparkrockhill.com/donations