John Heim with the Miracle League organization, joined the Carroll City Council meeting digitally to provide an update on fundraising progress and construction plans. The field is to be placed adjacent to Kellan’s Kingdom all-inclusive playground at Northeast Park.
Heim says they are excited to be over their goal in fundraising, which will allow them to get started sooner than expected. He says there is one little tweak they would like to see based on feedback from some adjacent property owners. Pat and Alie Tigges who are instrumental in building awareness and fundraising, are the parents of Kellan, the inspiration for this inclusive recreational area. Pat says they were asked to reposition the field from where it was in the original plans.
Pat has done some initial measuring and says they will be able to easily incorporate this request into the plans and extend the sidewalk for access. He says the biggest piece of the puzzle is the repositioning of the concession stand and restrooms. This will be up to the architectural and design firm, Shive-Hattery.
Parks and Rec Director, Jack Wardell, spoke with Shive-Hattery and says the only thing they pointed out with the change is it will likely take more concrete for access from the parking lot to the field. Heim says the fundraising will continue. Alie says they are very excited to get started on construction as that alone will be instrumental in bringing in more dollars for the rest of the project.
Heim says the Miracle League estimates they can expect teams and users to come from a 60-mile, or slightly larger, circumference. There is currently a field at the same stage as Carroll’s in Ames and the other nearest Miracle Fields are located in Des Moines and Sioux City.
