• Rotary Year: 2019-2020
  • Application Date: 5/28/2019
  • Club Name (Primary): Kingsport
  • Club Name 2: Kingsport-Downtown
  • Club Name 3: Kingsport-Sunrise
  • Club Name 4: Scott County
  • Club Name 5: Tri-Cities
  • Project Name: Miracle Field of Greater Kingsport – Area 13 Collaborative Grant
  • Project Total Cost: $24,600.00
  • Grant Amount Requested: $12,000.00
  • Describe the Project, its location and its objectives: Visit Kingsport, in partnership with the Kingsport Economic Development Board and the City of Kingsport are constructing a Miracle Field Complex at Brickyard Park in Kingsport, Tennessee. The first phase of construction will include a Miracle League field, restroom/concession building, pavilion and large ADA accessible playground. This facility will provide a place for special needs kids, teens and adults to play baseball and allow for future expansion to include a second Miracle League baseball field and multi-use/soccer field. The use of rubberized surfacing on the field provides a smooth and safe surface for players with mental and/or physical special needs, including the Wounded Warriors program. The facility will be the first of its kind in Northeast Tennessee, and will serve the entire region, including Southwest Virginia. The Miracle League program is about building self-esteem, developing friendships and having the opportunity to be an athlete with the crowd cheering as they head for home plate. Projected to draw players from 75 - 100 miles away, the project will impact thousands in our community and our region. The Area 13 Rotary Clubs have pledged to team together in support of this amazing project to purchase and assemble 6 benches and 4 – 8’ ADA accessible picnic tables, as well as purchase and install landscaping to include ornamental trees, shrubs, groundcover and mulch.
  • Expected Start Date: 8/1/2019
  • Expected End Date: 3/31/2020
  • Expected Number of Beneficiaries: 2500
  • Describe how the project will benefit the community and/or improve the lives of the less fortunate: Currently, children with mental or physical challenges in our region do not have access to athletic facilities that can accommodate their needs. Natural grass baseball fields do not allow for easy use of mobility devices such as wheel chairs, walkers or crutches. The Miracle Field Complex will provide a first-rate facility specifically designed to meet these needs that will serve families in the upper East Tennessee/Southwest Virginia region. In addition to the rubberized surfacing on the field, several unique features are included in the overall design that will provide additional comfort for both players and spectators. These features include several shade structures, backed spectator seating, fans in the dugouts and picnic pavilion, conditioned restrooms and a family restroom with a shower. Between the field and the picnic pavilion is a large ADA accessible playground that will be open to the public year-round. Another unique aspect about this project is that the Miracle League uses a “buddy” system to pair each player with an able-bodied peer, creating lasting friendships. This project goes beyond assisting with the physical construction of the facilities. It creates on-going opportunities for Rotary to live out “Service Above Self”, to positively impact our community, and to improve the lives of children and adults in our region.
  • Expected Total Project Volunteer Hours: 400
  • Describe the Rotarian hands-on activities in the project (i.e. non-financial participation): There will be several opportunities for hands-on participation with this project. The scope of this grant was selected to maximize participation from our membership without requiring special construction skills. The committee will coordinate purchase and delivery of the site furnishings and landscaping with the owner and general contractor, will organize work days, and coordinate food for the volunteers. We anticipate several work days to assemble site furnishings and install landscaping. In addition to providing volunteer labor to install the items purchased through this grant, the Area 13 clubs have committed to assisting with assembly and installation of all other site furnishings, shelving, etc.
  • Describe the publicity plan to inform the general public that this is a Rotary sponsored project: Our level of sponsorship with funds and in-kind donations through volunteer hours will allow for the Area 13 Rotary Clubs to be named “Miracle League Heroes.” At this level, we will receive our logo on the Wall of Fame, logo on the Batter’s Circle, and media recognition on all sponsor listings. Additionally, our plan includes promoting our sponsorship through our own press releases to local media, media invitations to our volunteer work sessions to highlight Rotary’s work on the field, promotion on each club’s Facebook page, and an article submission to Rotary International’s magazine The Rotarian.
  • Cooperating Organizations – Please list each cooperating organization, if any: Area 13 will use this project as an opportunity to engage our Interact Clubs, as well as local Tennessee Promise and STEM students to create a truly collaborative effort by the community.
  • Letter(s) of Participation: City_of_Kingsport_Letter.pdf, Area_13_Support_Letters.pdf
  • Project Expenditure Budget – list detail uses of funds for the project, or use the Budget Upload.See Budget Upload
  • Project Funding Budget – list detail sources of funds for the project, or use the Budget Upload: See Budget Upload
  • Budget Upload: K_DCG2015_Budget_Template_4.pdf
  • Primary Contact Name: Jennifer Salyer
  • Primary Contact Rotary Position: President Elect
  • Primary Contact Email: Jennifer.Salyer@bargedesign.com
  • Primary Contact Phone: 865-368-9604
  • Financial Contact Name: Steve Swinney
  • Financial Contact Rotary Position: Rotary Club of Kingsport Foundation Treasurer
  • Financial Contact Address: 
    1108 East Stone Drive
    Kingsport, TN 37660
    United States View on Map
  • Financial Contact Email: sswinney@firstbank.com
  • Financial Contact Phone: 423-246-3700
  • Project Authorization Form: Area_13_Collaborative_District_Grant_authorization_signature_form_2019_2020.pdf
  • Supporting Uploads: Landscape_Plan.pdf, IMG_BCBS_KINGSPORT_Photo_15.pdf, IMG_BCBS_KINGSPORT_Photo_12.pdf, IMG_BCBS_KINGSPORT_16_Photo.pdf
  • Grant Number1920C-03
  • Grant Award$12,000.00