Construction of an Inclusion Playground and Miracle League Field at Smithfield Community Park is a step closer.
The Smithfield Town Council has agreed to solicit bids for construction of the project after the Parks and Recreation Department received a $350,000 PARTF grant for its construction. The dollar for dollar grant is being matched by the Johnston County Partnership for Children and the Miracle League of Johnston County.
Because the grant was awarded to the Town of Smithfield, the town will oversee the construction. Matching funds will be turned over to the Town for the match and no town funds will be used for the construction.
Initial bids will be accepted for site work, including grading, paving, and concrete work. Once bids are accepted, playground and other equipment will be selected based upon available funding.
The Miracle League was founded in 1998 in Georgia and has spread throughout the country with the mission of the organization being to provide opportunities for all children to play baseball regardless of their disability. Currently, there are more than 200 Miracle League sites across the country, including Puerto Rico.
For information on the Miracle League of Johnston County and how to get involved, visit miracleleaguejc.com.
Currently, there are over 4,000 families in Johnston County who have children with special needs.
