Construction has officially begun on an inclusive playground at Mike Miller Park in Benton, the Miracle League of Western Kentucky announced this week. The project, which broke ground on March 17, will add accessible play equipment adjacent to the organization's Field of Dreams rubber-surfaced baseball complex.
The playground is designed for children of all abilities, including those with physical and developmental disabilities that can make traditional playground equipment inaccessible or unsafe. It will feature adaptive equipment and a poured-in-place rubberized surface that cushions falls and provides a stable, level path for wheelchairs and mobility devices.
Marshall County Judge Executive Kevin Spraggs said at the groundbreaking that he expects construction to be complete by early June. "This community has rallied around the Miracle League since day one," Spraggs said. "This playground is the next step in making Mike Miller Park a place where every child in Marshall County feels welcome."
Gala raised $148,000
The project was funded largely through the Miracle League's fourth annual Miracle Gala in January 2026, which raised $148,301. The Miracle League of Western Kentucky has operated its Field of Dreams baseball program since the rubberized diamond opened in 2023, giving children with mental and physical disabilities the opportunity to play organized baseball in an environment built around their needs.
The new playground will be open to the broader public when the Miracle League is not using the complex, giving families across Marshall County access to adaptive equipment that is typically rare in rural western Kentucky communities.