$50,000 state grant to be used for Miracle League project
Published 12:07 pm Friday, November 7, 2008
- The Gardendale Area Rotary Club held its second-annual gala Tuesday evening at The Club in Birmingham. Emcee Sheldon Hagood, along with Gardendale Area Rotary Club President Mark Argo, present a check for the $20,000 grand prize to winners Sharon Box and John Wicker, who was represented by Rotarian Charlotte Reach. Proceeds from this event will allow the Club to complete several community projects and continue to support its water and sanitation projects.
By Adam Smith
The North Jefferson News
Gardendale’s Miracle League project received a huge boost this week in the form of a $50,000 state grant.
At the Gardendale Rotary Club’s second-annual gala at The Club in Birmingham on Tuesday night, State Sen. Scott Beason, R-17th, announced that he had received confirmation from officials at the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) that the grant had been approved. Gardendale Mayor Othell Phillips also confirmed the grant while speaking to the Rotary Club on Wednesday.
Though the check will be used for the project, it will be granted to the city and will likely be used on infrastructure projects associated with the field.
Jeff Dennis, who has spearheaded the Miracle League efforts locally, said the grant may enable construction to begin on the park before the end of the year.
He said an additional $10,000 to $15,000 may be needed to complete the entire project, but he said it’s his hope that baseball can begin on the field in the spring.
Last year’s Rotary Club gala donated all of its proceeds to the Miracle League project. Rotary Club officials have said a portion of this year’s gala proceeds will also go toward the project, though a specific amount has not been finalized.
Recently, the Gardendale City Council designated a field at Luman Harris Park to be used for the Miracle League Field. The field will feature a rubberized playing surface and other safety features that will enable special-needs children a location to play baseball.
“This is one of those things that’s not just a Gardendale project, it will serve people beyond this district,” Beason said. “It’s a worthy project and it will be a huge success. I’m just glad to be able to help in some way.”
