Our View: Field of dreams becoming a reality

It was hard for most Minnesotans not to get at least a little bit excited last week when the Twins opened their regular season.

There is nothing quite like the beginning of another baseball season to remind us that – yes, after all – spring is arriving. Hibernation is over. Lawns are beginning to re-emerge.

And, of course, there’s plenty of spring-cleaning to do.

But there is a group of area residents excited for baseball’s debut for entirely different reasons. Within weeks, ground will be broken on Woodbury’s Miracle Field, a unique ballpark for handicapped children.

The park’s design is equipped to provide a complete baseball experience for kids who might not otherwise be able to take to the diamond. It will be wheelchair-accessible and will come equipped with a specialized rubber playing surface to accommodate wheelchair play. What’s more, the field’s parking lot will also offer extensive handicapped parking for its participants and families.

Organizers say games could be played on the field – located on East Ridge High School grounds – by summer’s end. We’re thrilled to see the project is about to move from the on-deck circle to the batter’s box.

There’s a certain joy children experience playing baseball – and it’s part of the reason so many people continue to play various forms of the game into adulthood. We applaud the organizations and volunteers making it possible for kids of different physical and mental abilities to feel that joy.

That’s what has turned this from a “field of dreams” into a reality. Play on.

Tags: our view, opinion, editorial