JOPLIN, MO.--- "The older Hayden gets, the harder it is to actually find a place for him to play in. He can't do the rock climbing wall, he can't do the monkey bars," states Jane Harding, Parent of Disabled Child.
Janel Hardings son, Hayden, has cerebral palsy and like many in the area, has a hard time playing on most playgrounds.
"In Joplin, Webb City, and Carl Junction, there are currently 1,500 disabled students. If you add in the surrounding areas, we have 4,500 students who have a disability," states Jenny Hocker, Head of Joplin Tornado Task Force.
Thousands of kids the 2 Joplin Rotary Clubs want to help. They work together on a special project to address what some feel is a glaring need in our community.
"They don't have any type of recreation that can be continued, so the Miracle Field just seemed like a good idea," states Hocker.
Designs for the new park include safety features like swings with backs and more even ground, so kids like Hayden can enjoy recreational activities safely.
"It's just great, It allows for a lot more things to be done for kids with disabilities and I was so sad that Joplin didn't have one and I an so excited to hear that this could be a major possibility in our town," states Harding.
The Rotary Club is working preliminary designs and has been in discussions with a contractor for the project. There's just one more hurdle before kids like Hayden can enjoy a safe place to play ball.
"Tonight, we go before the city council, we have already came to an agreement with the city, so we are hoping it's just a simple vote for yes," states Hocker.
If approved, the new baseball diamond and playground will be built at the Joplin Athletic Complex. The project is expected to take 3 months to complete. The Rotary Club wants to name it The Will Norton Miracle League in honor of a young man that died in last year's tornado.
Janel Hardings son, Hayden, has cerebral palsy and like many in the area, has a hard time playing on most playgrounds.
"In Joplin, Webb City, and Carl Junction, there are currently 1,500 disabled students. If you add in the surrounding areas, we have 4,500 students who have a disability," states Jenny Hocker, Head of Joplin Tornado Task Force.
Thousands of kids the 2 Joplin Rotary Clubs want to help. They work together on a special project to address what some feel is a glaring need in our community.
"They don't have any type of recreation that can be continued, so the Miracle Field just seemed like a good idea," states Hocker.
Designs for the new park include safety features like swings with backs and more even ground, so kids like Hayden can enjoy recreational activities safely.
"It's just great, It allows for a lot more things to be done for kids with disabilities and I was so sad that Joplin didn't have one and I an so excited to hear that this could be a major possibility in our town," states Harding.
The Rotary Club is working preliminary designs and has been in discussions with a contractor for the project. There's just one more hurdle before kids like Hayden can enjoy a safe place to play ball.
"Tonight, we go before the city council, we have already came to an agreement with the city, so we are hoping it's just a simple vote for yes," states Hocker.
If approved, the new baseball diamond and playground will be built at the Joplin Athletic Complex. The project is expected to take 3 months to complete. The Rotary Club wants to name it The Will Norton Miracle League in honor of a young man that died in last year's tornado.
