Building a Miracle Park
for Rock Hill

First steps have been taken to build a park in Rock Hill where people with developmental disabilities can participate in baseball and other sports and compete with other children and adults with differing abilities as part of Miracle League teams across the country.

Efforts to build the park – estimated to be a $6 million project at build out – are being coordinated by the York County Disabilities Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization, that supports the activities of MaxAbilities of York County which manages programs and cares for over 600 individuals in the area with special needs.

The park will be on the site of Winthrop Park between Cherry Road and Eden Terrace adjacent to the City’s Fire Station near Winthrop University Coliseum.

Accomplished to date:

• City of Rock Hill and Winthrop University have approved ground leases of 15 acres to the Foundation.
• Additionally, the City on Nov. 13 approved $550,000 to fund infrastructure improvements, including a parking lot and restrooms, for phase one of the park development.
• The City’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism has agreed to manage programs at the new facility under a contract with the Foundation; Winthrop faculty and students will be participating from the sports management and special needs academic areas.

Phase one will include a “miracle” baseball field which will be custom-designed to help prevent injuries. The rubberized turf fields accommodate wheelchairs and other assistive devices. A playground is also part of the first phase which has an overall budget of approximately $1 million, including the $550,000 from the City. These funds are from the City’s share of accommodations taxes to be used to encourage tourism. The Foundation is raising the remaining $500,000; it is projected that funds will be in place and the park can be under construction within a year.

Future phases of the park are expected to include another baseball field, multi-purpose fields, shelters, additional parking and retail space to employ folks with different abilities.

For further information contact: RockHillMiraclePark@gmail.com