MPRD Projects
Miracle Field
The City of Murfreesboro and Project One Four have teamed together to bring a Miracle Field to Murfreesboro. The field is located at the front of McKnight Park.
There is something about playing the game that lights up a person’s eyes. But for children and adults facing serious physical and mental disabilities that opportunity can often be difficult to achieve. Baseball diamonds weren’t exactly designed with wheelchairs and crutches in mind.
The Miracle League removes the barriers that keep children with mental and physical disabilities off the baseball field and lets them experience the joy of America’s favorite pastime. Since the main barriers for these adults arise from the natural grass fields used in conventional leagues, Miracle League teams play on a custom-designed, rubberized turf field that accommodates wheelchairs and other assertive devices while helping to prevent injuries.
But it’s more than playing a game. The Miracle League is about making new friends, building self-esteem and being treated just like other athletes. To help the athletes, the Miracle League uses a “buddy” system – pairing each player with an able-bodied peer. The result is a bond that cannot be described. The Miracle League serves children and adults who suffer from any physical or mental disabilities, which causes them to be excluded, whether intentionally or not, from conventional Baseball leagues.
Our project specifically incorporates a variety of features within the Miracle Field Complex. The Miracle Field itself includes a covered seating area, restroom building, and concession building. Other features include a standard baseball/softball field and an open synthetic turf area containing an inclusive playground.The playground system includes equipment that enables play for all abilities, for example, a teeter-totter for wheel chairs and a zip line with a belted seat.
The complex also includes a main plaza with a central kugel ball water feature representing a baseball with David Price's signature. Additionally, the complex includes picnic tables, benches, and two donor walls.
Project update You Tube video
Murfreesboro Greenway System
- Stone River Greenway extension - The Stones River Greenway extension follows the West Fork of the Stones River from Old Fort Park to Barfield Crescent Park and includes four phases. Phases 1, 2, and 3 are complete. The remaining section of the trail starts at the termination point of Phase 3 on Barfield Road and extends the trail approximately three miles to Barfield Crescent Park. The trail will include a bridge connection to the east side of the river and a small trailhead at Southridge Subdivision. Construction began September 2017 with anticipated completion in Fall 2019. Map of Greenway Phase 4
- Greenway reconstruction- planning is underway to replace restrooms at Thompson Lane Trailhead and Manson Pike Trailhead, lighting for parking lots of Thompson Lane Trailhead and General Bragg Trailhead, and reworking the bridge approaches on the section located from Thompson Lane Trailhead to Manson Pike Trailhead.
- North Murfreesboro Greenway- The newest 1.34-mile section of the Murfreesboro Greenway System opened December 14, 2016 with a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Central Valley Trailhead located on Central Valley Road near Walter Hill Dam.
As a cooperative effort between the City of Murfreesboro and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the $4.5 million North Murfreesboro Greenway starts at Walter Hill Park on Highway 231 and heads west on the east side of the Stones River. The new portion extends the Greenway to 13 miles.
The asphalt trail features two overlooks, a switchback, or “S-Curve” hill, and a tree-top canopy offering shade. The Central Valley trailhead boasts extended parking spaces suitable for equestrian trailers.
The North Murfreesboro Greenway trail will be open from daylight until 30 minutes prior to dusk. The Walter Hill trailhead is one half mile south of Jefferson Pike on Highway 231 (Lebanon Road), and the trailhead on Central Valley Road is located approximately one mile from Highway 231.
The same park and greenway rules will apply to the pedestrian trail; for example, non-motorized bicycles are allowed, and skateboards are prohibited. All pets must be on a leash, and dog owners must clean up after their pets. Horses are not allowed on the pedestrian trail.