JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A new baseball field where children with mental and physical disabilities can enjoy playing the national pastime is being planned for the City of Johnstown.

On Wednesday, Miracle League of Cambria County asked City Council for a 50-year lease to use 2.6 acres at Roxbury Park for the development of a complex that would include an artificial turf field, bocce ball courts, pavilions and lawn space.

Solicitor Dave Andrews recommended the nonprofit organization draw up a document to present to council.

The proposal was met with enthusiasm.

“This is an awesome idea,” Johnstown City Councilman Ricky Britt said.

Mayor Frank Janakovic told members of the organization “You have 100% support speaking for our council.”

The proposed complex would be located at some currently underutilized space, according to Tony Penna Jr., the city’s recreation director.

“We had two fields operating,” Penna said. “The one field has been gone for much time. The remnants of the other field are left there. It’s going to be really very nice to see some activity there.”

‘Something special’

The Miracle League is a nationwide organization that promotes baseball as a recreational activity for children with disabilities.

Cambria County’s chapter expects to have games for under-18, over-18 and advanced players. Vince Lovenduski, co-founder of the local group, expects there could be as many as 100 participants to begin.

“To give these kids and adults something to look forward to every week is really something special,” Lovenduski said. “A lot of time they’re shuttered in. They don’t have the opportunity to do a lot of things that normal kids can do. This is something where they can go and feel really important. This is going to be an enhancement to the community.”

Jeffrey Cramer, Miracle League of Cambria County’s president and CEO, added: “We cannot change or cure the medical issues life has dealt these children with disabilities, but what we can do is provide an opportunity to experience the joy and benefits that come from playing our national pastime, which is baseball.”

The project is expected to cost between $1.5 million and $2 million, depending on in-kind contributions of materials and services. Cramer said once the lease is finalized he expects there to be between $900,000 and $1 million in “resources that we think we can land without too much trouble.”

The plan is to fundraise this year and beyond, break ground in early next year and be playing ball by either the summer or fall of 2026 or spring of 2027.

More opportunities

There are currently 13 Miracle League complexes in Pennsylvania, including in Altoona and Indiana, according to information provided by the local group.

None are in Cambria County.

But West Suburban Little League in Upper Yoder Township, the only Little League Baseball Inc.-sanctioned organization in Cambria County, has its own activities for disabled children.

It recently acquired a $200,000 state grant to put in an artificial turf infield, which will make it easier for the children to play.

“West Suburban Little League is proud to have provided a place for children with physical and intellectual disabilities to play baseball for the past 15 years free of charge,” West Suburban President Jason Subich said. “Currently, for the 2025 season, we have 16 players signed up to compete in our Challenger Division.”

West Suburban and The Miracle League are not affiliated.

Dave Sutor is a reporter for The Tribune-Democrat. He can be reached at 814-532-5056. Follow him on Twitter @Dave_Sutor.

Make a Donation – Your contribution to the Miracle League of Cambria County will help us enrich both the mental and physical well being of many special needs individuals in our area.

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