I have some amazing news to share for the residents of Cheshire, Wallingford, Hamden, and beyond!
I have a very sweet constituent named Cole who lives with Angelman's Syndrome, and a few years ago his mother mentioned to me that the current adaptive field at Darcy School for the Cheshire Challengers was in disrepair. Since then, I've been quietly working with the Parks and Recreation Department to plan for a new field.
With the support of Cheshire Town Council Chair (and my good friend) Peter Talbot, today we secured $750,000 from the State Bonding Commission for a state-of-the-art Miracle Field at Bartlem Park!
What is a Miracle Field?
According to the Miracle League of Northern Connecticut, "A Miracle League field is a custom-designed field with a cushioned, rubberized turf to help prevent injuries, wheelchair-accessible dugouts and a completely flat, barrier-free surface to provide accessibility for visually impaired players, players in wheelchairs or with other assistive equipment. The field is completely fenced in providing another level of safety."
This is only the fourth Miracle Field in the state, and will be the regional field for central Connecticut, providing an incredible experience for kids with disabilities in Cheshire, Hamden, Wallingford, Meriden, Waterbury, and more!
Photo courtesy of The Miracle League
Photo courtesy of The Miracle League
Being a State Representative can be a tough job, but seeing a kid in a wheelchair playing baseball with his peers because of the funding you secured makes it all worthwhile, and it's what motivates me to keep working so hard for my constituents.
A special thank you to our Town Manager Sean Kimball, our Director of Parks and Recreation John Gawlak, and all of my legislative colleagues who supported this regional win: Rep. Jack Fazzino and Sen. Jan Hochadel from Cheshire, Reps. Josh Elliott, Michael D'Agastino, Robyn Porter, and Mary Welander and Sens. Martin Looney and Jorge Cabrera from Hamden, and Rep. Mary Mushinsky from Wallingford.
This is more than just a political bonding win - it's a beautiful opportunity for kids to be kids and play the sports they love. I'll see you on the field, Cole!
