Overview
The Adaptive Ball Fields at Makino Park is the newest project for the Mason Park & Recreation Foundation. The Foundation, with the help of the City of Mason and the Mason Challenger League, is working to raise funds to construct fully accessible, barrier free ball fields.
Inclusion is the focus of this project; giving every child the opportunity to play baseball in a fun, safe environment with no barriers. The goal is to add two turf ball fields to Makino Park, which is also home to the newly built Common Ground Playground. The Park is the perfect place to build the fields because everything at Makino Park is designed to be accessible to those with disabilities while giving them the opportunity to play with their typical peers.
The players of Mason Challenger Baseball have had difficulty reaching their full potential and fully benefiting from the game of baseball due to very hard, rugged, non-accessible ball fields. The current fields have barriers; they do not promote independent play. The uneven terrain makes it hard for those using mobility devices to maneuver around as well as for those with gait issues. Damages to mobility devices have occurred, resulting in costly repairs for families. Weather also impacts the fields and can cause game cancellations and sad faces.
Who Is Mason Challenger Baseball?
- Part of the Mason Youth Organization (MYO), a nonprofit, all volunteer organization.
- Includes boys and girls with physical and developmental disabilities from ages five to young adult.
- League began in the fall of 2012 with 30 players and has grown to nearly 100 players.
- Athletes come from Mason and surrounding communities.
Mason Challenger’s Mission
- To allow athletes with disabilities to play an organized sport like their typical peers.
- To teach the same baseball skills as their typical peers learn including catching, hitting, and running the bases.
- To expand the social skills of these athletes through teamwork, sportsmanship, and increased self-esteem.
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