ORLANDO, Fla. – Cheers and applause filled the air at Trotters Park this week as players stepped onto a brand-new Miracle League baseball field, marking a long-awaited comeback for a league that was once on the brink of losing its home.
The Central Florida Miracle League, which serves children and adults with disabilities, celebrated the grand reopening of its field after a complete turf replacement. Just months ago, the league faced the possibility of shutting down games altogether due to unsafe conditions.
“The field before this field was 20 years old, and it was on its last legs six years ago,” said Mike Houlihan, president of the Central Florida Miracle League. “We had a time standpoint there where if we didn’t change the field out, we were going to have to disband the league.”
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For years, the field had been the heart of the Miracle League, offering athletes a rare chance to play baseball in an inclusive environment. But behind the smiles, the surface was deteriorating.
“If we were walking through this about two months ago, you would be amazed at how poor the field was,” Houlihan said. “The field would not drain, so it was always flooded. It had big chunks out of it. It’s hard to get wheelchairs across it. It became a safety issue.”
The deteriorating turf, potholes and drainage problems made it difficult — and at times dangerous — for players using wheelchairs or mobility devices.
News 6 first highlighted those conditions in earlier reporting by former anchor Justin Warmoth, revealing how close the Miracle League was to losing access to the field altogether. That coverage helped spark renewed attention and community urgency.
“Trying our community is a big goal of mine,” said donor Jesse Eisner. “I called up my business partner and said, they need $80,000. Instead of doing this in pieces, let’s just get it going so they can get this right away.”
One donor became many. Contributions ranged from small individual gifts to large donations, all helping fund the full turf replacement.
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The new surface offers more than just a fresh look. According to league leaders, the turf stays about 10 degrees cooler than the surrounding air temperature — a significant improvement for players who are especially vulnerable to heat.
The redesign also improves wheelchair accessibility and overall safety, allowing more athletes to fully participate.
“Seeing what it was and to what it is now is just amazing,” Eisner said.
For players like Jake Jennings, the difference is obvious.
“I like it — better and better and better than the previous field,” Jennings said.
The transformation was evident as players rolled and ran across the field during reopening festivities, a sharp contrast to the damaged surface News 6 showed viewers just months earlier.
Despite the progress, league leaders say the work is not finished.
“Now the field is important, but our next project is accessible bathrooms, which we don’t have,” Houlihan said. “So, we’re raising funds right now for accessible bathrooms for wheelchairs.”
State Rep. Anna Eskamani said accessibility must go beyond the playing surface.
“We’ve got to make sure that the park is accessible in all ways,” Eskamani said. “There’s a larger conversation to have with the city around disability parking spots and making sure there are enough opportunities. The bathrooms also need to be more accessible.”
For Houlihan, the mission remains simple.
“Everyone deserves to play baseball,” he said. “Whether you’re in a wheelchair, whatever ailment you have, everybody deserves to play baseball.”
The Miracle League hopes the same community support that saved the field will help complete the next phase of accessibility improvements.