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All individuals deserves a chance to play baseball |
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Miracle League—SouthEastern Minnesota |
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More Information |
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The field is a solid surface, two color turf, which allows handicapped accessibility over the entire field. The bases are painted on the field so they don't create tripping hazards or obstacles. Children and adults using wheel chairs, crutches, or walkers can easily maneuver the entire field. |
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The Field |
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Essex Parkway NW Rochester, MN 55902 (Adjacent to Watson Field Complex)
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Directions |
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The field was built with help from the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Greater Rochester (LGR) Class of 2006 and the Rochester Park and Rec. LGR is a comprehensive nine-month program designed to educate participants about the Rochester community and provide an opportunity to discuss the challenges and issues that face the Rochester area. Its goal is to identify emerging leaders, expand their knowledge of the community and encourage them to take active, individual responsibility for participation in and leadership of the future of Rochester. When the field opened it was dedicated in the memory of Paul D. Johnson, who was a charter member of the Rochester Covenant Church, coached junior high baseball and taught English for more than 30 years, neither of which is an easy task nor attracts much attention. What the coaches do, if they are like Paul Johnson, is love baseball and their students. Some in the crowd Saturday had played for Paul decades ago. “The kids remembered him,” says wife Mary Ann. “Kids would come up to him and say you were my favorite teacher.” Paul tried to use his influence as a baseball coach in the classroom. “Because he taught baseball, he thought he might have a little ‘in’ with the boys that didn’t like English,” Mary Ann says. |
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League start and inspiration |
