In 2016, a small group of concerned citizens, City of Douglas, and Board of Education officials held a meeting that would impact the lives of all children in Douglas and Coffee County. The city embarked on a plan to build an area in Douglas that would service all citizens.
“In Douglas, we don’t just dream, we dream BIG when it comes to our children,” says Mayor Tony Paulk. “When Commissioner Roper unexpectedly passed away in 2017, I made it my mission to ensure this project would continue. Our community has a fantastic way of coming together to obtain goals - even during a world pandemic!”
City officials had bigger dreams than just a Miracle Field at the Davis Wade Park location. What began as a vision of the late Commissioner Johnnie Lee Roper to have a baseball field for special needs children in Douglas evolved into a revitalized park for generations to come. The City of Douglas has a swim team that has won both team and individual GRPA State Swim Titles for several years and they were practicing in a pool that was built in the 1950s. Seeing a need for a competition-sized pool, it was decided to add a new eight-lane pool, pool house, and splash pad to the renovations at Davis Wade. With the passage of SPLOST 2017, plans were drawn up, revised, and finally implemented in 2021 for the Davis Wade Park capital improvement project.
The COVID-19 pandemic slowed construction plans somewhat, however, site demolition began and was completed in July 2021. The old pool was demolished and filled in before digging began in the new pool area. By September 2021, the new pool was poured, a new splash pad area was visible, and the Miracle Field began to take shape. The new pool house construction began and ground preparations for the Miracle Field and Splash Pad were completed by the end of 2021.
The new year brought more visible transformations at Davis Wade Park. The pool house had walls, a roof, and interior work began. The pool had plumbing, gutters, and the chemical room was completed. The shape of the splash pad was outlined and the Miracle Field received its foundation in preparation for the specialized flooring that would be installed to allow accessibility for games on the field. In February 2022, the project really takes off for all to see. The roof was added to the pool house, concrete decking is poured in the pool and splash pad area. Lighting, dugouts, and fencing appear at the Miracle Field.
With an April 30, 2022 deadline fast approaching, the final touches are taking place. Equipment has arrived for the splash pad, pool and pool house. Concrete sidewalks are being poured daily and the parking lot is being paved. Guard railing, swimmer’s boxes, and water has been added to the pool. Homer, the Miracle League Mascot, has been placed at the entrance of the Miracle Field, and the field is complete with fencing, bleachers, and the Miracle League scoreboard.
When this project is complete, the City of Douglas will have a park built for all people in our community. It will not be long before a dream will come true for children and adults of all ages. They will be able to play baseball like everyone else and who knows – we may have an Olympic swimmer emerge from a pool that was built in Douglas, Georgia. In Douglas, we are proud to be a progressive community and will remain a city that believes in investing in everyone’s future.
Since 2017, donations from local citizens, Premium Waters, ESG Operations, Waste Industries, Southwire, Douglas Lions Club, and more private donors have contributed to raising over $38,000 for the Miracle Field. Without community support, the dream of a Miracle Field would not have ignited the spark for a park for everyone in Coffee County and surrounding counties to enjoy. Special thanks to everyone who contributed to making the Davis Wade Park Improvements project another great success story for Douglas and Coffee County.
