Build it and they will come. What started as a vision to build an athletic field for children with physical and cognitive challenges is now a community focal point that has had a transformative impact on young athletes and this community.

Some two years since its inception, the Miracle League Field operated by the Cibolo Family YMCA has proved to be a civic homerun as evidenced by the families using the facility in increasing numbers. 

Once the idea for the field was floated, eager donors quickly emerged to finance its construction — including the San Antonio Area Foundation through its John L. Santikos Charitable Foundation Fund. 

Fredy Degollado, owner of Christian Brothers Automotive Schertz and a board member of the YMCA, was the first to offer the idea after seeing a report on the specialized fields. “I thought this would be serving everyone in a meaningful way,” Degollado noted. 

As part of his due diligence, Degollado traveled to Houston with former Cibolo City Manager Robert Herrera to see a Miracle League Field for themselves. “We saw moms in the stands crying seeing their children playing for the first time, and that moved us quite a bit. After that, we were both convinced this was something we should try.”

But first, they had to convince community members – starting with a definition of the tailored athletic facility. A Miracle League Field is made with a rubberized surface that is fully wheelchair accessible, with bases and pitching mounds painted onto the surface to eliminate raised obstacles. 

“They loved the idea,” Degollado said of Cibolo residents. Key partners joined the Area Foundation to fund the project: Schertz-Cibolo ISD, HEB, Frost Bank, Lion’s Club, Schertz Bank and the Guadalupe Valley Cooperative. A $750,000 municipal bond sparked construction in earnest, leading up to a groundbreaking in 2021. 

Frank Arredondo, Executive Director of the Cibolo YMCA, eschewed the idea of having the Miracle League Field apart from other facilities on the 54 acres run by the Y. “It was planned behind the YMCA, away from the ball fields,” he recalled. “We decided no; it needs to be where the other kids play.”

The Miracle League Field is the centerpiece, flanked by two other traditional fields. Children as young as four and up to 13 enjoy playing softball and soccer on their tailored fields, Arredondo noted. “We thought it should be the main focal point so all kids could play – special needs kids and all kids with different abilities.” 

Gavin Nichols, Senior Program Officer with the Area Foundation’s Community Engagement and Impact team, said the field aligned with the organization’s mission to close opportunity gaps for those who need it most. 

“For children with disabilities, that’s a gap they have to navigate,” Nichols said. “The YMCA had a great idea of building it in the middle of other ball fields. They can experience the fun of throwing a ball, swinging a bat and running the bases together. It’s a special place, and a good fit for the Area Foundation.”

Tony Cantu is a contributor to the San Antonio Area Foundation Storytelling Ambassador Network.