Ground was broken on September 12 for a new, fully-accessible playground wrapping around the outfield of the Miracle League baseball field in Cranberry Township’s Graham Park. The new playground, along with a replacement of the ball field’s resilient surface, will be ready for play by next summer. Together, they constitute Cranberry Township Community Chest’s 2016 Project of the Year.
Immediately prior to the groundbreaking, Cranberry resident Mike Sherry, who founded Miracle League of Southwestern PA and led the effort to build the region’s first-of-its kind ball field in 2007, introduced the leading donors to CTCC’s 2016 project.
During the ceremony, Sherry announced that the new baseball-themed playground will be known as the Pirates Charities Out of the Park Playground, named for its major donor, which contributed $100,000. Pirates Charities had also been a major contributor to the ball field’s original construction.
Other leading donors presenting checks at the ceremony included the Alcoa Foundation, which contributed, $15,000, students from Seneca Valley Senior High School who contributed $20,000, and Fun Fore All owner Chris Camp, who donated $4,900.
The remainder of the project’s anticipated $600,000 cost will be raised through a variety of fundraising activities led by CTCC and the Miracle League.
The Miracle League of Southwestern PA is affiliated with the Cranberry Township Athletic Association which administers the baseball/softball program on a day-to-day basis. Miracle League baseball provides opportunities for children with mental and/or physical disabilities to experience playing baseball in a supportive league-based environment. The companion playground is designed for use by children of all abilities.