At the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation, we believe every child deserves a safe space to engage in sports, build a community, and reach their greatest potential. That’s why we are proud to unveil the first-ever adaptive sports field in Ohio, located in the city of Green.
To ensure children of all abilities, regardless of their physical or intellectual challenges, feel a sense of belonging, the Ripken Foundation values “making limitation irrelevant,” as Mayor Rocco Yeargin so powerfully puts it. By removing barriers and creating a field that both accommodates and empowers youth with special needs, Kleckner Park now serves as a new home for adaptive sports leagues and programs, including Green Challenger Baseball and G.O.A.L. Soccer.
Nathan Briggs, Executive Director of the Autism Society of Greater Akon, said it best: “This is a real-life Field of Dreams.” With wider dugout entrances, painted bases, and an ADA-compliant, wheelchair-accessible synthetic turf, those dreams can now come to life. With these amenities, the Foundation embodies the mission of providing opportunities for children of all needs, as we are deeply committed to helping youth develop life skills through sports, team bonding, and character development.
This field was made possible by the generous support from Group1001, FirstEnergy Foundation, Community Fund Ohio, Cavanaugh Building Corp., Summit County Community Development Block Grant, and Ohio Department of Natural Resources NatureWorks Grant.
Read more about this partnership here. To learn more about our Youth Development Park initiative, click here.