The Miracle League of Connecticut's accessible baseball field in West Hartford turned into a Halloween gathering spot on Oct. 24, drawing together 1,500 people for the nonprofit's annual Trick-or-Treat event. Nearly 40 local businesses, organizations and volunteer groups pitched in to make the day happen, transforming the field into a celebration built specifically for kids with physical, cognitive and developmental challenges.
The event took place at the organization's home field, located at the corner of Asylum Avenue and Trout Brook Drive, according to Miracle League of Connecticut. As reported by West Hartford News, the turnout reflected the scale the nonprofit has reached since it was founded on the belief that every child deserves a chance to play. Chris Montross, executive director of the Miracle League of Connecticut, said events like this one give families a chance to have fun together and feel part of the community.
A Field Built for Every Kid
The Miracle League of Connecticut is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to providing inclusive, accessible recreational and athletic opportunities, and its field is described as the first fully wheelchair-accessible Miracle League field in New England, per the organization's website. The field opened in 2012 and was designed so children of all abilities could play baseball without limitations, according to the same account from the nonprofit's history page. What began with just over 100 athletes has grown into a community serving more than 1,000 children, the organization says.
That growth hasn't stopped at baseball. The nonprofit now offers adapted sports and family programs, and its reach extends to more than 1,000 children and families across Connecticut each year, per the West Hartford News report. The organization has expanded into adaptive dance classes, a swim program, a family bowling league, an I Can Bike program and a Lego Brick Club, according to CT Insider.
Keeping the Doors Open to Every Family
Montross said he was grateful to everyone who helped make it a special day for the kids, a sentiment tied to the nonprofit's broader push to remove cost as a barrier to participation. The organization offers a liberal fee waiver and scholarship program so that expenses don't keep families away, CT Insider reports. That same outlet noted the nonprofit completed a $400,000 capital project to resurface its original field after 13 years of use, and in 2020 helped launch a new Miracle League field in East Lyme by providing startup funds and guidance.
Attendance figures for the organization's Halloween celebration have varied across years and reports. CT Insider previously described the event as drawing more than 1,200 attendees, while a City Lifestyle account of an annual edition put the figure at nearly 50 local businesses, civic groups and families serving more than 400 children, and a Patch report on an earlier second annual event said it drew hundreds of children. This year's event, per West Hartford News, brought the total to 1,500 people with support from nearly 40 groups.
Beyond the Halloween event, the league's regular baseball season draws steady participation, with about 120 players in the spring season and 75 in the fall, according to City Lifestyle. The Miracle League of Connecticut, based in West Hartford, continues to lean on its network of local partners to keep programming accessible for families across the state.
