“Every child deserves a chance to play.”

Those are not just words that are found on the Miracle League of Southeastern Connecticut website. They play out in real life.

Dave Putnam spent more than 17 years as the Parks and Recreation director for East Lyme before retiring in fall 2022. In 2017 the department partnered with the Miracle League of Connecticut for iCan Bike, a program to teach children with physical or cognitive challenges how to ride two-wheel bikes independently.

What happened from there is a testament to people coming together for the greater good. Putnam witnessed the impact of that cycling program. And the nonprofit Miracle League of Connecticut was looking to help organizations build more accessible ball fields in the state. Miracle League built its first custom-designed field with a cushioned, rubberized surface in Conyers, Georgia, in 1999, and has since built hundreds of fields across the country.

“So we decided to build a field in East Lyme,” said Putnam, now Miracle League of Southeastern Connecticut’s executive director. “We chose Flanders Elementary School, and the Board of Education has been great with us. The Miracle League of Connecticut gave us seed money to get going with fundraising.”

And did they ever get going. Through private fundraising—using no municipal money—and an impressive list of local sponsors, the $500,000 field opened in 2020. There have been baseball games and kickball games and lacrosse games, trick-or-treating and egg hunts. There also is an accessible basketball court on the property, donated by Kevin’s Kourts, a program that was originated by former UConn men’s basketball coach Kevin Ollie to place courts around the state for those with disabilities. For dancers, Everybody Dance Now is a new eight-week adaptive dance program held in collaboration with Studio 22 Dance in East Lyme that culminates with a recital.

“It has been a huge, huge community involvement not only for East Lyme, but to date we have attracted athletes from 43 communities, over 400 athletes,” Putnam said.

When the field opened in 2020, it was only the second in Connecticut and the fourth in New England. The other field in the state is in West Hartford, and Putnam said the Miracle League of Northern Connecticut is raising funds for a field to be built in Vernon.

“You see the looks on the kids’ faces after a baseball game or a basketball game or anything we do,” Putnam said. “That continues to fuel me too.”

And it fuels so many others who volunteer their time.

Gina Morris is president of the Miracle League of Southeastern Connecticut.

“The children love that they get to participate in adaptive sports in a safe and nurturing environment,” Morris said. “They are accepted just as they are and encouraged to have fun. Many parents have expressed how much they love bringing their children to an organization that understands and is accommodating to all different needs. Parents also have the opportunity to connect with other parents who may be experiencing similar things. There is bonding going on both on and off the field.”

Jessica Stearns manages the social media accounts, helps with community events and volunteers in various sports. Like Morris, Stearns sees those bonds developing.

“Being able to have friends who accept and understand you without judgment is absolutely priceless,” Stearns said. “Sometimes, especially growing up in some of the smaller towns, individuals may not have had other kids who ‘get them.’ Representation matters. Seeing other individuals with wheelchairs, hearing aids, walkers, medical devices, etc., makes you feel like you belong, too.”

The major fundraisers for the league are the Playing For A Miracle Bash at the Uncas Ballroom at Mohegan Sun, which in 2022 raised about $100,000, and the Niantic Bay Oyster Festival. Then there are grants and private donations, sponsorships and field banners. It all adds up. As president of the league, Morris helps with those events as well as planning and organizing new and existing events.

Morris’ 8-year-old daughter participates in the soccer and kickball program and has been a participant in the iCan Bike, a weeklong summer program that Morris says is spectacular. Stearns also has an 8-year-old who has been involved in many events.

“I wanted to get involved because it is a cause near and dear to me,” Stearns said. “Besides enjoying playing sports myself, I also have physical limitations and a neurodiverse family, as well as friends with various needs and disabilities. Additionally, I also spent many years as a nurse working with medically fragile children and young adults who had disabilities and developmental delays as well.”

Phase Two of the project, restrooms and a storage building, is in the process of starting. The third phase is a fully accessible playground area.

“With the field being completely accessible,” Stearns said, “wheelchair users are able to maneuver around the bases for baseball and kickball with ease, and have access to the dugouts.

“All the sports and activities we do are able to be tailored to the particular needs of our athletes, meaning everyone is able to play every sport we offer. In basketball, for instance, we have hoops of various heights and styles so that anyone is able to make a basket.”

When the field opened in 2020 amid COVID-19 there was a soft opening. Once that playground goes in, “optimistically in a year and a half,” says Putnam, the project will be complete and the grand plans will have come to fruition. And that will deserve one heck of a grand opening.

Jeff Otterbein is a freelance writer and editor living in Manchester.

BECOME A MIRACLE LEAGUE VOLUNTEER

Miracle League is always looking for volunteers to assist athletes, bike-riders and dancers at the various programs:

Buddy volunteers assist players during ball games one on one. Buddies must be at least 12 years old and no real sports skills are necessary.

iCan Bike volunteers run alongside and serve as spotters for bike riders as they learn to ride. They must be at least 15 years old and available for a full week of camp (Monday through Friday) in early August.

Everybody Dance Now volunteers assist individual dancers as they learn and perform their routines. They must be at least 13 years old and available for the length of the program. The program, which began in March and meets on Saturdays, ends with a dance showcase May 18.

Visit the Miracle League’s website to learn more at mlsect.org/volunteer, or email Dave Putnam at dpmlsect@gmail.com.