VIDEO Riversides Miracle Park Fundraiser Kicks Off

Windsor police officers took on Windsor Firefighters in a charity softball game to raise awareness for a Miracle Park in Riverside Saturday

Windsor police officers took on Windsor Firefighters in a charity softball game at Riverside Baseball Centre to raise awareness for a Miracle Park Saturday.

Riverside Minor Baseball Association has already raised more than $750,000 of the $2.2-million needed to build its Miracle Park on the site of the former Riverside Arena.

Choosing the competitors to kick off their fundraising drive was easy, according to project Co-Chair Bill Kell.

"Riverside Baseball use to be called the Riverside Fireman's Association, it was peewee baseball back in the 1950's," says Kell. "We thought we'd celebrate that by having the Windsor Firefighters Association come play the Windsor Police Association in a fun exhibition game to raise awareness."

Mayor Drew Dilkens threw out the first pitch for the city, which donated the land for the project.

A new sign was unveiled for the soon to be built park that Kell says is something every community should have. He told AM800 News the plan is to go beyond the ball diamond by creating space for everyone to play.

"With this miracle field, for them to be able to have their wheelchairs or their walkers on a place that's safe, and also have a fully accessible and inclusive playground that will be built along side of the field," he says.

As it stands now, the only Miracle League diamond in Windsor-Essex is located in Amherstburg. 

For more information on the park, or to donate, visit www.riversidemiraclepark.com.