The Miracle League of West Mobile: Schmidt Family Park could not have been completed without the contributions of many wonderful donors. The park's Board of Directors wishes to thank all those who helped make this special facility a realit, including:
Speaks and Associates Consulting Engineers, Inc., TAG/The Architect Group, and Youngblood-Barrett Construction, who did the design work and construction.
The Schmidt-Barton Family Fund, which donated over $2 million.
The Alabama Pecan Development Company, Inc., which donated more than 24 acres to the project.
South Alabama Utilities, which donated more than four acres.
The Mobile County Commission, which paved the road leading into the park.
Mobile County Public Schools, which oversaw the construction, fundraising, financing, and marketing of the park.
In addition, a large group of donors contributed funds to help complete the facility:
Line Drive
$ 1,000 Mosteller & Shreve, LLP
$ 1,000 In Memory of Quinton Zirlott
$ 1,000 Poarch Band of Creek Indians
$ 1,000 Stokley Nursery
$ 1,000 Trustmark Bank - (B.J. Griswold)
$ 1,500 Ms. E. Grace Pilot
$ 1,800 Mary G. Montgomery High School students
$ 2,000 Mobile County Farmers Federation
$ 2,500 Mobile Alabama Bowl, Inc. - 68 Ventures
$ 2,500 Alfa Insurance
$ 3,000 Mobile Rotary Club
Single
$ 5,000 Teresa & Joe Brown
$ 5,000 Star Service, Inc., of Mobile
$ 5,000 Mark Davis Construction
$ 7,500 BankPlus - Chris Conken
Double
$ 10,000 A.S. Mitchell Foundation
$ 10,000 Sheriff Paul Burch
$ 10,000 The Crandall Fund
$ 10,000 Liberty National/Mitchell & Mitchell Agency
$ 20,000 Rep. Mark Shirley
$ 20,000 Harwell and Company
$ 20,000 Dick’s Sporting Goods Foundation
$ 20,000 Alabama Power Foundation
Triple
$ 25,000 Sen. David Sessions
$ 25,000 Rep. Margie Wilcox
$ 27,085 Gulf Coast RC&D Council, Inc.
$ 30,000 Alabama Baseball Coaches Association/Barry Dean
Home Run
Mikell Speaks
$ 50,000 Sen. Jack Williams
Grand Slam
$ 110,000 John F. Schmidt
$ 175,000 South Alabama Utilities
Big League
$ 250,000 Mobile County Public Schools
$ 500,000 Alabama Pecan Development
Out of the Park
$ 1,500,000 Mobile County Commission
$ 2,010,000 + Schmidt-Barton Family Fund
The road leading into the park is lovingly named in memory of Mikell Speaks, whose grandson Sam was an inspiration for this field.
As the first Miracle League site in Mobile County, Schmidt Family Park was constructed in accordance with the standards of The Miracle League, which affiliates with 240 similar parks across the United States and Canada. These standards will allow children and adults with mental and physical disabilities to experience the joy of America’s favorite pastime.
The baseball field features a synthetic rubberized turf that accommodates wheelchairs and other assistive devices while helping to prevent injuries. The field has double-wide lanes, allowing the players more space as they round the bases. The playground includes inclusive swings, slides, structures and fitness equipment, wheelchair ramps, and even a zip line.
There is still work to be done. Future plans call for a regulation baseball field and softball field. Donations are being accepted at mcpss.com/miracleleague, or by hitting the "Donate" button on this website.