our benevolence: MIRACLE FIELD
The Great American Pastime
Just Became Greater
One Parker County
Couple Realizes Their
Dream Of Building an
Extraordinary Field For
Their Extraordinary Son
BY ABIGAIL GIEGER
SEPTEMBER 2015
PA R K E R C O U N T Y T O D AY
K
nown as the Great American Pastime, baseball is famous for bringing people together.
There is just something about it that makes
everything right; from the smell of freshly roasted
peanuts to the clear sound of a bat hitting a ball,
baseball brings out the excitement and anticipation one can only get watching a runner round
third base and head home. Miracle League Parker
County, an organization dedicated to ensuring
people with special needs have a field to play in,
has just upped the ante when it comes to baseball.
Construction on the league’s park started
nearly a year ago when George and Amy Mercer
decided they wanted to build a ball field for their
special needs son, Vincent.
“We didn’t know exactly how to go about
it, so we asked my assistant to look into some
options for the area,” George said. “The main
reason Amy and I wanted to do this was because
[Vincent] had aged out of every other sport
program which is a real issue with special needs
children. I mean, how do you tell someone in an
adult body with a child-like mind that he’s too
old to play ball?”
With this in mind, the Mercers were all in
when it came to the building. They had hoped to
have the field ready for the regular open season
but because of the unusually heavy rains in May
and June the concrete pouring was delayed until
mid-summer. This, however, has not stopped
them from going through with their plans and
opening the ball field on September 12th.
The Mercers donated the land for the park that
has been in their family for many years. And on
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top of that they graciously donated $500,000 to build both the
field and the parking lot. They looked to the community to raise
money for a special needs playground. They have not been disappointed.
“The community has really gotten behind this. We are getting
a lot of positive feedback and support from not only families but
businesses in the community as well,” said LeAnna Gieger, who
serves as executive assistant to the Mercers. “We had a lot of help.
We have a lot of contractors volunteer not only their time but
supplies as well, often working into the night due to hot temperatures to make sure the field is complete for fall ball. The City of
Weatherford has been very helpful in getting permits and working
with the construction team, Tracy Tomlin General Contracting.
Jerry’s Chevrolet has donated money for the scoreboard; Railhead
is donating the food for the grand opening; and a lot of other
companies have committed to help in some way or another,
whether it be financial or volunteering their time.”
Amy Mercer, who has a background in fundraising and charity work said, “I’m looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and
putting those skills to good use at Miracle League Parker County.”
With all the excitement over the building of the park, the
Mercers wanted to make sure this was a family affair. “Nothing
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