Maury County Park to Welcome $2.6M All-Inclusive Baseball Field

Issue #528

August 16, 2025

In this What’s Up Columbia issue…

⛅️ Columbia’s Weather - Partly cloudy. Hot. w/ High of 96, low of 71.

⚾️ Maury County Park to Welcome $2.6M All-Inclusive Baseball Field

🏃‍♂️ August 30: My Day 5K & 1 Mile Trot to Benefit Local Nonprofits

🗓 List of Upcoming Events

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

🗓 Know of Some Local Events Not Listed? Send us the Details!

Maury County Park to Welcome $2.6M All-Inclusive Baseball Field

The Miracle League of Columbia at Maury County Park is excited to announce its partnership with the Maury County Parks and Recreation Department and the City of Columbia to develop a $2.6 million all-inclusive baseball field in Maury County Park.

The project, designed by TKC Architecture and Heritage Civil and presented by Hewlett Spencer, was officially approved by the Maury County Commission on July 21. The new field will be built on the former site of the Babe Ruth Field, a longtime fixture of youth baseball in the community for over 40 years. Hewlett Spencer holds the county contract, and Bell Construction Company has been selected to oversee construction.

“We are thrilled to finally break ground on a project that has been years in the making,” said Robin Estep, Founding Member of The Miracle League of Columbia. “This partnership with the County provides a sustainable path to support our mission for years to come and will serve so many in our community. We are incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support we have received from County Mayor Sheila Butt, the County Commission, the City of Columbia and the Parks and Recreation Department. It is truly a group effort that has brought us to this point.”

The Miracle League is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that builds and operates fully accessible, custom-designed baseball fields for children and adults with disabilities. With over 350 locations nationwide, Miracle League fields feature rubberized turf surfaces that accommodate wheelchairs and assistive devices—removing physical barriers and helping prevent injuries.

The Miracle League of Columbia at Maury County Park was founded in 2021 by a group of Columbia natives with a shared dream of bringing an all-inclusive Miracle League field and playground to their hometown. Among the founding members were brothers Mike and Daniel Uggla, alongside Robin Estep. Daniel, a former Major League Baseball player, got his start in Columbia, and the Miracle League provides a meaningful way for him to give back to the community that helped shape his baseball journey.

The Babe Ruth Field, now the future home of the Miracle League, holds deep personal significance for the Uggla and Estep families and countless others in the area. For decades, it served as a hub for youth baseball and played a major role in Daniel’s early love for the game. Revitalizing this space into an inclusive community hub honors that legacy while creating new opportunities for connection and play.

“This is one of those projects that’s easy to get behind and lead a team on,” said Jamie Spencer of Hewlett Spencer. “It’s a unique build, incorporating a specialized surface for accessibility, but otherwise, it aligns closely with other athletic complexes we’ve delivered across the state. What’s made it especially rewarding is the overwhelming support from Maury County, the City of Columbia, and local professionals who’ve stepped up to bring this vision to life.”

The Maury County Parks Department will maintain the facility, while The Miracle League of Columbia will manage league operations.

“We’ve been waiting for the right project to breathe life back into this space,” said Al Ray, Director of Maury County Parks and Recreation. “Nothing felt quite right until City Mayor Chaz Molder introduced me to Robin and Mike. They shared the Miracle League vision, and a partnership was forged. This field is full of memories, and it’s exciting to see it reimagined as something that will benefit the entire community.”

In addition to the baseball field, plans are underway for a nearby all-inclusive playground, a joint initiative between The Miracle League and Maury County Parks, further enhancing accessibility and inclusivity for families throughout the region.

An official groundbreaking will take place on Wednesday, August 20th at 9:30 a.m. For more information, visit www.columbiamiracleleague.com.

August 30: My Day 5K & 1 Mile Trot to Benefit Local Nonprofits

The Maury County Fair and Knights of Columbus have been supporting Special needs youth and young adults for over 15 years with My Day at the Fair. The 2024 My Day Event hosted over 1,250 special needs youth and young adults along with their caregivers.  

2025 marks the start of a new event, My Day 5K and 1 Mile Trot, which expands the mission of My Day and honors William “Will” Spiess who never met a stranger and believed everyone deserved a friend.  

Local Maury County non-profit organizations who will benefit from Funds raised at this event include:

-Kings Daughters School
-Maury County Special Olympics
-Best Buddies of Tennessee

We care deeply about every member of our Maury County Community and hope you will support us in this new venture. We can’t wait to see you there!

My Day 1K and 5 Mile Trot
August 30th
1018 Maury County Park Drive

Upcoming Local Events

🗓 Have an event to add? Send us the Details!

Saturday, August 16th

Sunday, August 17th

Monday, August 18th

Tuesday, August 19th

Wednesday, August 20th

  • Vet2Vet Meet Up at McCreary’s - 5:30 - 7:00 PM

📌 Mark Your Calendars…

Aug 14 - 23: Tennessee State Fair (Lebanon)
Aug 22: Tennessee Titans First Pre-Season Home Game
Aug 28 - Sept 1: Maury County Fair & Expo 
Sept 27 - 28: Pilgrimage Music & Heritage Festival

👇 Click the Links to Learn About our Local Business Sponsors! 👇

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

Saturday, August 16th

Miles Damaso Group, Puckett’s 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Grasskickers, Amber Falls Winery, 3:00 - 7:00 PM
Bethany Trainor, Buck & Board, 5:00 - 8:00 PM
Johnny Jameson & The Empty Pints, McCreary’s Irish Pub & Eatery, 7:00 - 9:00 PM
The Howlin’ Embers, Puckett’s, 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM
DNR, Rebel Bar & Grill, 7:30 PM
Mike Peter’s, Grazie! Italian Eatery, 7:30 - 9:30 PM
The Ultimate 90’s Experience, The Mulehouse, 8:00 PM
Tough Enough, The Boondox, 8:00 PM 
Box of Rox, Fozzy’s Bar & Grill, 8:00 - 11:00 PM

Sunday, August 17th 

TBA, Amber Falls Winery, 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Vince & Brett, Fozzy’s Bar & Grill, 4:00 - 7:00 PM
Jay Hoppus, Puckett’s, 6:00 - 7:30 PM

Want to get your business in What’s Up Columbia? Let’s talk