Page 12 - Jan-Feb 2021 Vol 38 No 6

VIRTUAL CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS

Kingport’s Miracle Field

Mark Miller Tennessee Public Works Project of the Year

The Mark Miller Tennessee Public June 27, 2020 - Kingsport celebrated the official grand opening of Eastman Credit Union Miracle Field Park,
Works Project of the Year Award, given by which includes the Eastman Field and the Blue Cross Healthy Place Playground
the Tennessee Chapter of the American
Public Works Association (TCAPWA), Ryan McReynolds, Kingsport Deputy City Manager, FINISHED DIMENSIONS
recognizes a project within the state received the Project of the Year Award from Size: 10,568 square feet playing field
that emphasizes outstanding planning, TCAPWA President Justin Holland. Baselines: 50 feet
construction and management. Home Plate line to center field fence: 127 feet
Baseline to dugout: 21 feet
This year’s winner, Kingsport’s Miracle Pitcher’s mound to home plate: 33 feet
Field at Brickyard Park, was nominated
for TCAPWA Project of the Year by the a Miracle League Field to the Model young adults with mental and physical
City of Kingsport Public Works, as an City. A Miracle League Field is a baseball disabilities off the baseball field, and lets
excellent example of how a Public Works field built to accommodate special needs them experience the joy of America’s
department can operate as a team to children and young adults. Additionally, favorite pastime.
produce high-end results. those facilities also serve seniors and
wounded warriors. Miracle League itself is not new,
Kingsport’s Miracle Field at Brickyard although it was new to Kingsport, and
Park, which serves youth and adults with A Miracle League, which is free and it is the first Miracle League complex
special needs, held its grand opening non-competitive, also is being created in Northeast Tennessee. Aside from
June 27, 2020, and in the months since to coordinate games and schedules for Kingsport, the closest Miracle League
then it has proven to be an inspiration and the fields. A Miracle League removes complex in Tennessee is in Chattanooga,
a symbol of hope during the time of the the barriers that keep children and and Roanoke is the closest in Virginia.
global pandemic, said Kingsport Deputy
City Manager Ryan McReynolds.

“In many ways, this project turned
out to be such a breath of fresh air,”
McReynolds said. “I’m very proud of
how the design and construction of this
field, which is different than a standard
baseball field, came together through
various city organizations, such as Barge
Design Solutions and Visit Kingsport.”
Construction was by GRC Construction.

The $2.56 million complex project,
Eastman Credit Union Miracle Field
Park, included the construction of
Eastman Field, a pavilion and the Blue
Cross Healthy Playground, an all-
accessible playground. In addition to
the field, playground, and pavilion, the
complex also includes a concession stand
and “Homer” the mascot statue at the
entrance.
America’s Pastime; Project Inspiration

Located at 2017 Brickyard Park Road
in Kingsport, the field’s beginnings came
from a vision to serve youth and young
adults with special needs, and who love
the game of baseball. The need for Miracle
Field originally was visualized by Visit
Kingsport Executive Director Jud Teague,
a former high school baseball coach.

Teague’s son Nicholas, who has Down
Syndrome, was the inspiration to bring

12 TPW January/February 2021