Adaptive-sports group seeks city-backed lease to move Miracle League project forward

Dr. Klinge, speaking on behalf of the Miracle League of New Albany and Adaptive Sports, urged the council to let a previously authorized lease negotiation proceed so the group can complete fundraising and build an adaptive-sports facility next to the existing Miracle League Field. He reviewed the site concept in Swickard Woods, a proposed field house, concession and restroom facilities, an adaptive playground, an adaptive bike course and donated elements such as a soccer pitch from the Columbus Crew Foundation.

Michael Sawyer, superintendent of New Albany Plain Local Schools, told council the district supports the programming potential near campus and said 743 students qualify for special education services districtwide while 111 receive adaptive physical-education services that could make use of a proximate facility. Sawyer and staff said the district has limited land left on campus and any future expansion would require partnerships with the city or other entities.

Councilors pressed presenters on parking, traffic and schedule overlap with school operations. Presenters said their project plans originally assumed roughly 42 additional parking stalls and that most Adaptive Sports programming would occur in evenings and on weekends, with limited daytime use for proximate pre-K–2 students. Council members noted the adjacent new school building will add roughly 200 parking spaces and that traffic engineering for the combined campus remains a key question.

On finance and timing, Dr. Klinge and Adaptive Sports staff said many gifts and grants were contingent on clarity about the lease; they said some state funds have been redirected during the delay. The group proposed a 16-year lease terminating in 2041 but offered 15 years as a compromise to address council concerns about future school needs.

City staff told council a resolution passed in 2023 still authorizes the city manager to negotiate a lease. The manager and city attorney said they will prepare a draft lease based on the existing Miracle Field template, add council-requested protections (including hard commencement or contingency dates and provisions to address traffic/parking and school needs), share it with council for review, and bring a final lease back for a thumbs‑up or thumbs‑down vote at the first council meeting in February (Feb. 1). Council members said that formal adoption of a lease would give Adaptive Sports the certainty needed to resume major fundraising.

Next steps: staff will draft a lease incorporating council conditions and return it to council for consideration at the Feb. 1 meeting.