The Miracle League at the Langham Creek Family YMCA, Cleary Family Playground
Houston, TX USA
Playground Overview
The Miracle League at the Langham Creek Family YMCA in Houston, Texas, is an inclusive play environment featuring a PlayBooster® playstructure. The playground design is filled with inclusive playground components like the Sway Fun® glider, Rollerslide and Roller Table™, OmniSpin® spinner, Sensory Play Center® along with playground slides, climbers and sensory-stimulating activity panels. CoolToppers® shade products are integrated into the playstructure to keep children sun-safe all summer long while adding dimension and color into the landscape. Wide ramps, vibrant colors and a range of play opportunities welcome children of all abilities.
Playground Details
Age Ranges
-
- 5 to 12 years
Design Standards
- ASTM
Installed
- March 2016
Design/CAD Files
Min Area Required
97" x 83" (2,46 m x 2,11 m)
Max Fall Height
88" (2,24 m)
- Project Price Range
-
$200K-$500K+
Pricing reflects only the equipment shown in the 3D render above. For international and exact pricing, please contact your local playground consultant.
- Contact Your Consultant
- About Color
-
Color is an important decision, and our playgrounds are available in many color options. Use our carefully curated palettes or work with our design team to create your own color combination. Contact your local playground consultant to learn more.
Playground products shown in video may not be appropriate for every age group. Playsystems shown in video are for demonstration purposes only. Product configurations may vary.
Video features the playground at the Cleary Family Playground and Miracle League field at the J.E. and L.E. Mabee Adaptive sports complex.
[video: view of the sign hanging in the peak of the sports complex. The sign reads J.E. and L.E. Mabee Adaptive sports complex. Camera switches to a view of a brick wall of the building with a sign reading Langham Creek Family YMCA with the YMCA logo next to it.]
[video: view of the fenced in Cleary Family playground from the wheelchair access ramp. Camera switch to a panning view of the miracle league field while a game is being played. An announcer indistinctly speaks over the loud speaker. Aerial panning of the playground and miracle league field.]
[video: camera is placed behind home plate as a young boy up to bat hits the ball down the third base line. He drops his bat and runs to first. The crowd cheers. A volunteer and player sit on the gowned across from each other with their legs spread the shape of a V. Their feet touch to keep the softball they are rolling back and forth from rolling away. The young boy rolls the ball to the volunteer and turns to smile at the camera. A volunteer kneels next to a player standing at shortstop, he hands the young boy a softball. Camera zooms onto the back of a volunteer’s shirt that reads buddy as he holds only a player at second base. A volunteer flips his head upside down to look under a player’s baseball cap.]
[video: a young girl wearing a Chicago Cubs shirt swings from the monkey bars. She smiles at the camera. A girl with glasses swings herself on the Oodle swing. A young boy climbs up away from the camera on the conical climber. A girl swings rung to rung on the overhead trekker ladder on the Evos play structure. Camera zooms out from the Omni spinner as two girls ride while an adult spins them around. An adult and two girls work together to make the sway fun move back and forth. Three kids swing together on the Oodle swing. A young girl smiles at the camera as she bounces up and down on the we-saw multiple rider see saw. Camera follows a young boy as he slides down the middle lane of the cloud burst slide. Camera fallows another boy as he slides down the middle lane of the cloud burst slide.]
[video: camera looks up through o-zone climber rings as a young boy lets himself down off the rings. Camera close-up of young boy climbing through o-zone climber rings. Elevated panning view of entire playground. Young girl moves herself down the roller table by the overhead arched bars towards the camera. A young boy smiles as he lays down on the Omni spinner while being spun.]
[video: A volunteer guides a player with an implanted hearing device to second base. A volunteer and player hold hands as they run in slow motion to first base towards the camera. The player smiles as they reach first base. A young boy in a wheelchair wearing a Chicago cubs t-shirt and hat gives the camera a big smile and a thumbs up. A volunteer and a young boy in wheelchair pose for the camera by gives a thumbs up and smiling. A young boy wearing a blue batting helmet swings his bat at a ball on a tee. He hits the ball off the tee.]
[video: Elevated view of two girls being swung on the Oodle swing by an older girl. A girl makes her way rung by rung across the bow ladder monkey bars in slow motion. She reaches the last run and drops to her feet. A young boy runs across the bridge platform away from the camera. A young girl smiles at the camera as her and the camera spin on the Omni spinner. Point of view camera is place on a young boy’s wheelchair as he is pushed down the third base line to home plate. A woman off camera speaks.]
Woman off camera: Woo, give them a high five! Yeah!
[video: boy in wheelchair high five volunteer as he is pushed towards home plate. He reaches home plate and turns to the camera to cheer.]
Young boy in wheelchair: Yeah!
[video: camera pans a pile of baseball gloves in a pile on the dugout ground. Camera close up of a baseball on the pebble flex field surfacing. Elevated panning view of the playground and Miracle field with children playing all around. Screen switches to all white with The Miracle League logo. Landscape Structure logo pans up from the bottom of the screen.]
Featured Products
We offer the widest range of park and playground equipment to promote healthy lifestyles, encourage skill-building and create unique outdoor experiences. From our playsystems and freestanding playground components to themed designs, site furnishings and more, we’ll help you create a recreation space that welcomes your whole community.
Play Systems featured in this Playground
Evos®
Ages 5 to 12 Years
Evos® attracts kids with its unique appearance and endless opportunities for unstructured fun. Its ground-to-ground arches allow kids of all abilities to join in the fun. But most importantly, Evos lets kids find their own ways to play while building muscle strength, endurance and mental agility.
U.S. Patent Nos. 8,021,240, 8,366,562, 8,485,911 and 9,089,731. Canada Patent No. 2,658,420.
PlayBooster®
Ages 5 to 12 Years
The PlayBooster® playground structure, the original post-and-clamp system, combines exciting ground-level components with climbing events and overhead activities for kids ages 5 to 12. The PlayBooster family includes the interconnected cables of Netplex®, the contemporary Vibe®, the nature-inspired Tree House and the double-decker PlayOdyssey® Tower.
Resources
Product Categories featured in this Playground
Freestanding Play
Ages 2 to 12
Freestanding Play events add fun and excitement to new and existing playgrounds! Revitalize your current playground or create a playground design that’s completely unique using Freestanding Play components for kids ages 2 to 5 and 5 to 12.
Resources
Site Furnishings
All of our various furnishings including shade products, picnic tables, benches, trash receptacles and more are designed to coordinate with your playground and surrounding environment. The right pieces will create a clean, safe and welcoming spot for the whole community.
Play Styles featured in this Playground
Inclusive Play
We believe all kids are created equal. That’s why we create play environments using inclusive playground equipment that welcome kids and families of all abilities to learn, play and grow together. Our playgrounds feature activities that are age and developmentally appropriate, sensory stimulating and universally designed.
Resources
Playground consultant for this project
We’ve created a global network of local playground experts to be at your side, every step of the way. With an average of 20 years of experience, our playground consultants are knowledgeable and personable. They will guide you through product pricing and specifications, customization, financing options, community builds, on-time deliveries, maintenance, finding replacement parts, and service questions.
Lone Star Recreation of Texas
10701 Corporate Dr Ste 390
Stafford, TX 77477
USA
Phone 281-970-9010
Toll Free 800-867-2070
info@lonestarrecreation.com
www.lonestarrecreation.com
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All Together In Play
A new Houston playground where everyone is included
The idea behind the Langham Creek Family YMCA’s Miracle League adaptive sports complex started with three friends: Alan Wallace, Rodney Finke and Mack Hoehner – all fathers who coached their kids’ baseball teams and wanted to give back to the community in a meaningful way.
Their mission began with a YMCA Miracle League sports field that provided kids with special needs the opportunity to play baseball. Its synthetic turf allows people who rely on mobility devices to move easily across the surface even during times of rain. Inspired by the field’s great success, the men set their sights on creating a larger adaptive complex for children with special needs—including a pavilion to keep families in the shade, office space, a concessions stand, and a barrier-free playground suitable for all children.
The playground – like the sports field – was designed for all children regardless of their age or abilities. As a proud partner of the Langham Creek Family YMCA and Miracle League, Landscape Structures helped design the playground.
Playground products shown in video may not be appropriate for every age group. Playsystems shown in video are for demonstration purposes only. Product configurations may vary.
Video features the playground at the Cleary Family Playground and Miracle League field at the J.E. and L.E. Mabee Adaptive sports complex.
[video: view of the sign hanging in the peak of the sports complex. The sign reads J.E. and L.E. Mabee Adaptive sports complex. Camera switches to a view of a brick wall of the building with a sign reading Langham Creek Family YMCA with the YMCA logo next to it.]
[video: view of the fenced in Cleary Family playground from the wheelchair access ramp. Camera switch to a panning view of the miracle league field while a game is being played. An announcer indistinctly speaks over the loud speaker. Aerial panning of the playground and miracle league field.]
[video: camera is placed behind home plate as a young boy up to bat hits the ball down the third base line. He drops his bat and runs to first. The crowd cheers. A volunteer and player sit on the gowned across from each other with their legs spread the shape of a V. Their feet touch to keep the softball they are rolling back and forth from rolling away. The young boy rolls the ball to the volunteer and turns to smile at the camera. A volunteer kneels next to a player standing at shortstop, he hands the young boy a softball. Camera zooms onto the back of a volunteer’s shirt that reads buddy as he holds only a player at second base. A volunteer flips his head upside down to look under a player’s baseball cap.]
[video: a young girl wearing a Chicago Cubs shirt swings from the monkey bars. She smiles at the camera. A girl with glasses swings herself on the Oodle swing. A young boy climbs up away from the camera on the conical climber. A girl swings rung to rung on the overhead trekker ladder on the Evos play structure. Camera zooms out from the Omni spinner as two girls ride while an adult spins them around. An adult and two girls work together to make the sway fun move back and forth. Three kids swing together on the Oodle swing. A young girl smiles at the camera as she bounces up and down on the we-saw multiple rider see saw. Camera follows a young boy as he slides down the middle lane of the cloud burst slide. Camera fallows another boy as he slides down the middle lane of the cloud burst slide.]
[video: camera looks up through o-zone climber rings as a young boy lets himself down off the rings. Camera close-up of young boy climbing through o-zone climber rings. Elevated panning view of entire playground. Young girl moves herself down the roller table by the overhead arched bars towards the camera. A young boy smiles as he lays down on the Omni spinner while being spun.]
[video: A volunteer guides a player with an implanted hearing device to second base. A volunteer and player hold hands as they run in slow motion to first base towards the camera. The player smiles as they reach first base. A young boy in a wheelchair wearing a Chicago cubs t-shirt and hat gives the camera a big smile and a thumbs up. A volunteer and a young boy in wheelchair pose for the camera by gives a thumbs up and smiling. A young boy wearing a blue batting helmet swings his bat at a ball on a tee. He hits the ball off the tee.]
[video: Elevated view of two girls being swung on the Oodle swing by an older girl. A girl makes her way rung by rung across the bow ladder monkey bars in slow motion. She reaches the last run and drops to her feet. A young boy runs across the bridge platform away from the camera. A young girl smiles at the camera as her and the camera spin on the Omni spinner. Point of view camera is place on a young boy’s wheelchair as he is pushed down the third base line to home plate. A woman off camera speaks.]
Woman off camera: Woo, give them a high five! Yeah!
[video: boy in wheelchair high five volunteer as he is pushed towards home plate. He reaches home plate and turns to the camera to cheer.]
Young boy in wheelchair: Yeah!
[video: camera pans a pile of baseball gloves in a pile on the dugout ground. Camera close up of a baseball on the pebble flex field surfacing. Elevated panning view of the playground and Miracle field with children playing all around. Screen switches to all white with The Miracle League logo. Landscape Structure logo pans up from the bottom of the screen.]
Houston’s First Adaptive Sports Complex
“The founders of this project wanted its final piece to be a huge inclusive playground that could serve our entire community because nothing like this existed in Houston,” said Matt Thompson, district executive director of the Langham Creek Family YMCA. “Upon completion in 2015, we had created the first and only adaptive sports complex in Houston.”
"The founders of this project wanted its final piece to be a huge inclusive playground that could serve our entire community because nothing like this existed in Houston,"district executive director of the Langham Creek Family YMCA
The complex serves more than 1,000 individuals with special needs who wish to play baseball, flag football, basketball, swimming, tennis and soccer in the nearly 9,000 square-mile Greater Houston area.
Even in its early planning phases, this project garnered immense community support, enabling the YMCA to complete the project entirely through community donations.
“The YMCA Miracle League’s grassroots, community-driven efforts brought a wealth of personal experience from families and children who have special needs to the playground planning process,” said Jane Jenewein, strategic alliance manager with Landscape Structures. “Children who rely on mobility devices are fully accommodated on this playground that offers ramps and extra-wide walkways, oversize swings and so much more,” she said.
Ultimately, the YMCA has created a park that has something to offer every child. The playground enables freedom of movement, whether children use a mobility device or not, with poured-in-place surfacing and a network of decks and ramps that lead to each playground component. To protect children from the heat and UV rays, CoolToppers® are interspersed throughout the play structure. Kids ages 5 to 12 are engaged by PlayBooster components including the Conical Climber™, Gemini SlideWinder2® and a Lollipop Climber with Vibe® Handholds. Kids can climb over, under and through the Evos® Arches with O-Zone® Climber next to the PlayBooster structure.
Surrounding the main playground structure are several freestanding play elements that provide sensory-rich play options. For example, the Sensory Play Center® features a series of tactile, visual and auditory-stimulating panels that engage all children, including those who have special sensory processing needs. Other freestanding play features are the Roller Table™, an Oodle® Swing and the fully wheelchair accessible Sway Fun® Glider.
“One of the best parts of this playground is giving typical kids and their families the opportunity to learn and have a better awareness of what’s around them, so they truly understand what it means to love everyone,”
“We didn’t want the YMCA Miracle League playground to only be a place for kids with special needs. Instead, we incorporated state-of-the-art features that encourage all kids to play together,” Matt said.
Learning to Serve and Love Everyone
The Langham Creek Family YMCA serves more than 215 families through its adaptive programs. Since opening, a number of people in the community have expressed interest in building similar inclusive playgrounds throughout other parts of Houston.
“One of the best parts of this playground is giving typical kids and their families the opportunity to learn and have a better awareness of what’s around them, so they truly understand what it means to love everyone,” said Matt. “It’s awesome to see it being enjoyed in person.”
