Our Inspiration
THE Miracle FIeld Speaks To Everyone
In 2002, a now Miracle League All Star’s family organized a league of their own on a dirt field in Wilmington, North Carolina. This is where many of our Miracle League All Stars first began their dream of playing baseball. Around the same time, Dr. Dan Johnson, Founder and Chair Emeritus, was in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and saw the Grand Strand Miracle League in action while watching his son play baseball. He returned to Wilmington with a vision of a Miracle Field for Wilmington - A place that engaged children and adults who had always watched from the sideline in a community of sports, recreation, and fitness!
In 2008, ACCESS of Wilmington was incorporated as a nonprofit organization and the Wilmington Believes in Miracles campaign began to raise over 2-million-dollars to fund The Miracle Field and Kiwanis Playground at Olsen Park, a fully accessible 33,000 square foot rubberized field and playground. The Miracle Field of Wilmington is the largest Miracle Field in the country and our Kiwanis Miracle Playground has become a benchmark for accessible playgrounds across the country!
In 2013, Wilmington’s own Field of Dreams, The Miracle Field, allowed many of these children to run, walk or roll the bases for the very first time as All Stars for The Miracle League of Wilmington!
“You don’t know this, but I have a heart and a soul. I am only here today because of all your caring, your advocacy, and your faith. I will be a great place because you will decide to be part of me forever. ”
Founding Board of Directors
Dr. Dan Johnson, Chairman | David Morrison, Vice Chairman | Michael Franklin, Treasurer | Tammy Pruden, Secretary
Neesha Allen - Dr. Candy Ashton-Forrester - John Bunting - John Edge - Holly Grange - Nick Jernigan, MD - Kathrine McKenzie - Amy Queen - Bo Dean, Director
THE HISTORY
Accessible Coastal Carolina Events, Sports, and Services, Inc. - ACCESS of Wilmington - is a nonprofit organization founded in 2008 to raise funds to build The Miracle Field and Kiwanis Miracle Playground in Wilmington, North Carolina.
Hundreds of children and adults living with physical, intellectual, and invisible disabilities have utilized the 33,000 square foot rubberized Miracle Field and Kiwanis Miracle Playground to experience the joy of adapted sports, recreation, and fitness, often for the very first time!
2025-current: Under Crozier’s leadership, ACCESS hired new program directors in Fit and SOAR and has expanded its community outreach. Programs have rebranded, combining Play and Accessible Adventures into ACCESS Adventures, signifying the importance of adapted sport and recreation to ALL ages. Family and community events complement our mission to remove barriers and build community.
In 2024, ACCESS of Wilmington hired new leadership with Executive Director Paula Crozier, whose extensive background in entrepreneurship, business leadership and nonprofit management strengthened the processes and strategic planning necessary for ACCESS to reach its next professional level, including Building ACCESS!
In 2022-2023, ACCESS of Wilmington grew its programs and built upon its internship programs. Staffing changes allowed for better distribution of programming goals through enhancing programming under the four program pillars: ACCESS Fit/NeuroFit/1:1 Recreation therapy, Project SOAR for Veterans and combined Miracle League with Play and Adventures.
In 2020-2021, ACCESS of Wilmington took on another program during COVID, Accessible Adventures. Accessible Adventures takes on accessibility in a whole new light by providing ACCESS participants with 2 all-terrain mobility devices: Terrain Hoppers. These amazing pieces of equipment can conquer snow, sand, mud, and other obstacles.
In 2019, ACCESS of Wilmington continued to expand by implementing new opportunities in Recreation Therapy! Recreation Therapy 1:1 sessions aim to increase recreation participation, range of motion, communication, self-confidence, coping skills, leisure awareness, and health and wellness.
In 2018, ACCESS of Wilmington established plAy providing 35 hours of Archery, Cycling, Kayaking and Surfing for children and adults living with disabilities and their families. ACCESS led Field Trips for local schools, held Movie Nights at Miracle Field and so much more!
In 2016, Project SOAR was developed through collaboration with UNCW and the generosity of the US Department of Veterans Affairs to provide Veterans with disabilities the opportunity to participate in adapted sport and recreation like Archery, Kayaking, Scuba Diving, Surfing, and so much more! In 2018, Project SOAR offered over 100 hours of adapted sport and recreation. The program saw significant growth in participation and partnership, including the Warrior Transition Battalion at Fort Bragg and the USO of Jacksonville.
In 2015, ACCESS Fit, then G.A.M.E.S, was developed as a collaboration with UNCW’s Recreation Therapy program and began thanks to the generosity of the Cape Fear Memorial Foundation.
Since Grand Opening Day in 2013, The Miracle League of Wilmington has flourished, growing from 45 to 210 All Stars and a total of 10 teams serving individuals age 2 to 80!