Mirolo Dream Field at ADS Stadium recently opened in Swickard Woods at Wexner Community Park, allowing children with special needs to experience the joys of America’s favorite sport firsthand with their families and friends. The Miracle League of New Albany, offers adaptive baseball at an accessible stadium for children who are grouped by ability and age and paired with a volunteer “buddy.” VIEW VIDEO

The stadium features a smaller, specially designed rubber turf field and athletes use special bats, balls and helmets. A playground for siblings, friends and athletes is planned for Phase Two of the project. The nonprofit Miracle League of New Albany was founded by New Albany resident, Kevin Klingele, chief of orthopedic surgery at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, who spearheaded planning and fundraising for the $1 million project that included the field, grandstand, dugouts and video scoreboards. The city entered into a 10-year lease with the New Albany-Plain Local Joint Park district for five acres on the north side of Swickard Woods Boulevard for a one-time fee of $10.