“Root, root, root for the home team” as San Diego County has officially reopened and renamed the former Miracle Field to Padres Park in Del Mar.
The Swingin’ Friar, along with Padres players Jackson Merrill and Joe Musgrove, joined officials at San Dieguito Park to unveil the upgraded baseball field designed to welcome athletes of all abilities.
Improvements include new ADA-compliant surfacing that accommodates wheelchairs and mobility aids, reduces risks of falls and provides a smooth, safe playing surface, according to the county.
Additional upgrades include a new dugout, entrance signage, scoreboard, bleacher shade canopies and a large San Diego Padres logo embedded in the field surface.
The project was made possible through a collaboration between the county, Miracle League of San Diego, Padres Foundation and community donors, officials said.
The Miracle League provides children and adults with special needs the opportunity to play baseball in an organized league.
To commemorate the reopening, Miracle League participants played a game coached by Merrill and Musgrove.
“Baseball belongs to everyone. Padres Park will be a field where every child and adult – no matter their ability – can feel the joy of the game, the pride of their team, and the support of their community. This partnership with the Miracle League and the Padres embodies what makes San Diego special: when we work together, we make inclusion real,” said San Diego Board of Supervisors Chair Terra Lawson-Remer.