As Merle Santjer, board president of the Miracle League of Dubuque, Iowa, stood before a crowd eager to break in a new baseball diamond on Aug. 10, he uttered a few words to signify the moment.

“Welcome to our field of dreams.”

Those are large shoes to fill, considering that Major League Baseball’s inaugural MLB at Field of Dreams game would take place two days later and approximately 30 miles west in Dyersville, Iowa. But for the more than 4,000 children and youth with disabilities in the Dubuque area, the Miracle League’s new facility will be all that and more.

The Miracle League of Dubuque held a dedication ceremony for its new baseball complex on Aug. 10, the league’s Opening Day. As part of the festivities, players from the local high school baseball teams stopped by to buddy up with players, assisting with batting, baserunning, fielding and throwing. Local donors helped make the facility possible, while FOX Sports donated new baseball equipment and MLB provided customized uniforms (White Sox and Yankees, in the spirit of the Field of Dreams game) to the players.

Established in 1998, the Miracle League seeks to remove the barriers that keep children with mental and physical disabilities off the baseball field and give them the joy of playing on a team. There are currently more than 240 chapters in North America that serve an estimated 200,000 children and adults with disabilities.

“The dream of building a Miracle League baseball field in Dubuque was originally a dream of a great teacher and a coach, Coach [Tom] Witry,” Santjer said. “The dream began with Coach Witry’s passion for baseball, for people with disabilities, and his belief in the dignity and value of every human being.

“We are grateful for every dollar given, for every hour volunteered, for every talent you have shared with us to build this complex.”

The facility includes a baseball field and a playground, both of which are completely accessible to children of all abilities. The field is made of custom-designed, rubberized turf that can accommodate wheelchairs and other assistive devices, and all play surfaces are cushioned to prevent injuries.

“This is a wonderful way to celebrate baseball, which at one time, and I still believe is, the American pastime,” said Joe Chlapaty, a project donor. “All children should be able to participate in baseball and have that experience, and this facility, which is absolutely magnificent, will allow that to happen.”

The Miracle League complex is already popular with its athletes.

“I really like coming here for many reasons. I can play in the park with my best friends, and my brother and my sisters, all by myself,” said Camdyn Reisner, who plays in the Miracle League. “I have so much fun here.”

Said fellow player Logan Walker: “The field here is so great because it’s spongy. I can run really fast around the bases. I can’t wait to play baseball here.”

The Miracle League’s new complex is bigger than baseball. Many recreational facilities are not completely accessible for all people, but the new field and playground will give every youth in the Dubuque area the opportunity to play without barriers.

“It’s always amazing to me that when we try to do something good for the benefit of others, it ends up benefiting us,” Miracle League board member John O’Connor said. “All of our donors, whether big or small, have stepped up to the plate, and they’ve effectively hit a home run for the entire community.”