Universal Design - This is what sets us apart!

Miracle Park's goal is accessibility, equity, and the removal of barriers.  We have looked at the physical and social barriers of other playgrounds and parks and tried to remove them so that people of all ages, abilities, races, and genders can play, work, and hang out TOGETHER without barriers.

Thanks to the Ryan Doherty and Progressive AE, we have been able to research and pursue Universal Design Certification -- While grounded in ADA, this process offers far more potential for inclusion by using established guidelines for buildings and spaces to help meet the needs of different populations, including: the elderly, individuals with disabilities, those recovering from injury, and people with hearing and sight challenges. Universal Design (Universal Design | Progressive AE) is dedicated to designing spaces where everyone is given what they need to succeed. It is an opportunity to create a space where physical and social barriers are removed to create an environment that was designed with everyone in mind with the ultimate goal of full inclusion. 

The Universal Design principles incorporated into the project will enable Miracle Park to apply for Universal Design certification, one of only a few buildings in the world to have currently achieved this status and the first athletic Park of this kind to be certified in the world. 

This takes more funding to make this happen than a regular park, can you help by donating today?  https://www.miracleparkrockhill.com/donations

To learn even more about Universal Design visit this site. 

2017 History of the Miracle Park

March 2017 – We made a presentation to Parks, Recreation, and Tourism and it was received well.  They want to be a part of it, run the leagues, maintain the park, etc., once it is completed.  

August 2017 – We finally got the official word that Winthrop and the City were on board!  

September 2017 - A presentation by Warren Norman and David Williams to the City Council led to a $550,000 commitment to help build the infrastructure of the park and the facilities. 

The First Site Plan was released in 2017. 

November 2017 - a logo was created!  And the media started to hear about it. A few small articles were released.  We started to look for grant opportunities and worked with the City on what that would look like and how that would make a difference in paying for the park. The cost was now set at $4,000,000, but the land was valued at $2,000,000, for a total of a $6,000,000 budget. 

We soon realized that this logo couldn't work since this is not officially a city park like the others, so we eventually changed it. 

We started to tell organizations about our park and explained the fundraising element of it and why the breakdown works. 

This was an important step which allowed the community to see that this is a program of The Disabilities Foundation which serves MaxAbilities.  It's a public/private partnership.