Miracle Field playground planned at Westgate Park

Dothan Rotarian Ronnie Dean remembers well those days when he used to take his children to the playground of Heard Elementary School to play.

There was nothing miraculous in their abilities to climb the monkey bars, whiz down the slides or reach new heights on the swings, he said. But today, he and another 300-plus Dothan Rotarians realize that is not possible for every child. That is partially due to the lack of facilities in the city, and thus the opportunity.

“My kids are without special needs. They can access that playground,” Dean said. “I wondered how I would feel if I had a child who could not access it. It almost seems unfair. Our children deserve a playground where all children can play.”

The local Rotary Club members, in conjunction with the Miracle Field Foundation and Dothan Leisure Services, are spearheading a drive to build an addition at Rotary’s Miracle Field complex at Westgate Park. They are building a playground for special needs children.

And so begins a $500,000 fundraising campaign to pay for the project. The equipment alone will cost about $300,000.

Kim Meeker of Dothan Leisure Services had lead focus groups to study the components needed for such a playground. Meeker presented an overview to Dothan city commissioners earlier this week, laying out some specifics.

Because many of the children who might use it are sun-sensitive, play areas will be shaded. The playground will have 140 total play activities and many exclusive Americans with Disabilities Act features to facilitate play.

Plans call for 8,006 square feet of rubber surfacing, with 3,200 feet of shaded areas and nearly 1,000 feet of ramped play. There are special features, including musical instruments and miniature backhoes for playing in the sand.

“You can play just as freely on a wheelchair as if you don’t require one,” Meeker said. “Two wheelchairs can pass on the ramps and there are large decks with crow’s nests. Children can wheel out from under the main traffic flow.”

Dean and Rotarian Hamp Baxley said they hope to have the project completed by the spring.

“This will be a destination point for a lot of people in the region,” he said.