YMCA Unveils New Adaptive Sports Field with Cardinals Care & Boniface Foundation

”I am thrilled to celebrate this special Opening Day for the new Adaptive Sports Complex with our partners at Boniface and the Gateway Region YMCA,” said Bill DeWitt III, President, St. Louis Cardinals and Board Chairman, Cardinals Care.  “It is truly fitting that this field carries the name of Paul Goldschmidt, who has demonstrated a passion for making baseball more accessible so that everyone can experience the camaraderie and life lessons that the game teaches.”

“We are so excited to make this investment in support of the Gateway Region YMCA’s service to the adaptive community,” said Win Reed, Boniface Foundation Chairman. “Adaptive sports programs have a significant impact on the well-being of youth with disabilities, and this amazing new facility will help ensure these youth are able to learn, grow and thrive for years to come.”

The centerpiece of the $5 million sports complex is the baseball field, with a cushioned, barrier-free surface and barrier-free dugout to provide accessibility for players with disabilities. The field is designed to have a look and feel similar to Busch Stadium and provide participants and their families with a “major league” experience, including a silhouette of the Gateway Arch on the outfield, just like the St. Louis Cardinals home field. The complex also includes fixed and lawn seating, a fan plaza with shelter canopies, concessions, and a dynamic, electronic scoreboard featuring “Paul Goldschmidt Field” in honor of the St. Louis Cardinals first baseman.  Paul Goldschmidt Field is the 25th ballfield that has been dedicated as part of the Cardinals Care Youth Ballfield program.

“It is a tremendous honor to be the namesake of this Miracle League Field that will provide the opportunity to play the game I love to those who may not otherwise have the chance,” said Goldschmidt. “I am grateful to all of the community partners that made this dream field become a reality.”

In addition, the complex includes an inclusive and fully accessible playground, running track and multipurpose field for soccer, flag football and other sports.

“The Gateway Region YMCA currently serves more than 1,000 children and adults with disabilities,” stated Tim Helm, President and CEO of the Gateway Region YMCA. “This new facility is a natural expansion of our work, allowing our Y to provide much more sports programming to those with disabilities throughout our entire region. We are so thankful to the St. Louis Cardinals and Cardinals Care, Boniface Foundation, and Miracle League for this tremendous investment to provide equal opportunities to this underserved community.”

The Y will run Miracle League Baseball and other programming for youth and adults at the new facility, and continues to run basketball and other indoor sports for those with disabilities.

“We are grateful to the St. Louis Cardinals, Gateway Region YMCA, and the Boniface Foundation for partnering with us on this amazing new resource,” said Stephanie Davis, Vice President of National Programs at Miracle League. “These fields create such an exciting and joyous experience for the kids and their families, and it means so much for them to be able to enjoy the game of baseball."

As part of the partnership with the Miracle League, the Y and St. Louis will host the Miracle League All Star game in 2025, when disabled youth from across the country will be able to play and compete.