On Friday Sept. 6th, 2024 the was ribbon was cut for the grand opening of the Miracle Lead of Greater Flint handicapped access field. Financed through the efforts of many local organizations including area Rotary Clubs which, lead by Genesee Valley with contributions from the Rotary Club of Flint, the Fenton Rotary Club, the Rotary Club of Flushing, the Greater Flint Sunrise Rotary Club, the Grand Blanc Rotary Club plus a generous contribution from a Rotary Foundation District Grant.
The Miracle League of Greater Flint is a non-profit volunteer organization associated with over 300 other fields in US, Canada, Puerto Rico and Mexico. The field is expected to serve more than 10,000 children and adults with disabilities and give them the opportunity to participate in sport of baseball.Watch the story here from ABC 12 News.
The Miracle League concept started in 1999 by a Rotary Club in suburban Atlanta, Georgia which built a specially designed baseball field with cork covering instead of grass and barrier free dugouts and access. The concept spread across the US and Canada with other Rotary clubs helping to establish similar programs.The MLGF field features a continuous flat rubberized surface. The pitcher’s mound, the bases, and all other features are incorporated into the surface using a color pattern to distinguish them, reducing tripping hazards for crutches or wheelchairs, and other assistive devices. The field provides the opportunity for children and adults with physical and emotional challenges to participate in the great game of baseball in an environment that is safe and supportive, and designed to meet their needs.
Flint area Rotary clubs provided the family seating including a portable bleacher unit on wheels which can be towed to other fields in the complex for additional community use. Like so many projects that Rotary participates in, this one started out with a vision and desire by one person to do some good in the world.
Brian Caine, then 14 years old, heard about the Miracle League and it's long time tie-in with Rotary and wanted to build a field in the Flint area. By a fortunate coincidence, the township where our club calls home was in the process of developing a large community recreational area that could accommodate such a facility so Brian's quest began. He recognized from his mom Roxanne, a past President of both the Genesee Valley and Flint Rotary clubs that step one was to start raising funds. He got on the speakers agenda to do his first presentation at our Rotary club but had one little snag. At 14 he couldn't drive so his grandfather, Roxanne's dad, joined him for the presentation. Grandpa Bernie Romain stayed with him and took the lead while Brian attended college and together they raised $400,000 to build the field. After graduating from college, Brian went to work for Dow Chemical and is now the President of the Miracle League of Greater Flint and working on getting league games and Special Olympics programs to keep the field in use for years to come.