Mishawaka just opened one of the most accessible outdoor spaces in northern Indiana. The Miracle League Complex at Normain Park is built so kids and adults of every ability can play baseball, hit the playground and cool off at the splash pad side by side. Phase One opened to the public on July 18, 2026, and getting in is free.
The complex is a public-private partnership between the Miracle League of Northern Indiana and the Mishawaka Parks and Recreation Department. Here is what to know before you go, how the games work, and what is still to come.
Where It Is and When to Visit
Normain Park sits at 200 E. McKinley Ave. in Mishawaka, IN 46545. The grounds are open daily from dawn to dusk for general public use.
There is no admission fee. Lilli's Playground, the splash pad, the sensory garden and the interactive play structures are all free to enjoy.
Who Can Play, and How the Buddy System Works
The Miracle League is open to children and adults with physical, cognitive or developmental disabilities, roughly ages 4 through adulthood, from across northern Indiana and southern Michigan. Families can register players through the nonprofit's portal at miracleleaguenin.org.
Every player is paired with a "Buddy," a community volunteer who plays alongside them. A Buddy might help position a bat, push a wheelchair around the bases or simply cheer a player on. It is what makes a Miracle League game work, and it is where most volunteers start.
Inside the Complex
Phase One packed a lot into the grounds, all of it designed for mobility devices and sensory needs from the ground up.
Pfeil Miracle Field. A level, rubberized synthetic turf field with zero tripping hazards, built for wheelchairs and walkers. It has a Jumbotron video board, a PA system for player walk-up intros, and an adaptive bat-swinging device engineered at the University of Notre Dame.
Lilli's Playground. Mishawaka's first fully gated playground, with automatic self-closing safety gates. It includes adaptive swings, inclusive seesaws and a 12-foot wheelchair-accessible slide with a textured ramp for crawling or scooting.
Sensory-friendly splash pad. A Vortex splash pad with ground-level features and temperature-controlled water, plus a Lappset Sona interactive play arch that runs guided audio games.
Comfort facilities. Restrooms are equipped with adult changing tables for visitors with high support needs. The park also has communication boards for non-verbal interaction and shaded grandstand seating.
What's Coming in Phase Two
With Phase One open, the Miracle League of Northern Indiana and the Mishawaka Parks Foundation are raising funds for Phase Two, which expands the complex beyond baseball into year-round, multi-sport and multi-generational recreation.
Adaptive and wheelchair basketball court. A smooth rubberized court with adjustable hoop heights and zero-threshold borders, built for adaptive basketball programs, wheelchair leagues and casual play.
Storybook trail and walk. A fully paved, accessible path winding through the park, mounted with large weather-resistant storyboards and interactive prompts so families can move, read and explore together.
Dedicated tot lot. An enclosed, low-impact sensory zone for toddlers ages 2 to 5 with developmental delays or physical limitations to practice early motor skills safely.
Expanded sensory garden and calming space. A quieter retreat for anyone who gets overwhelmed by the noise of a ballgame or splash pad, with outdoor musical instruments, tactile native plants, aromatics and shaded, secluded seating.
How to Get Involved
The complex runs on volunteers and community support. You can serve as an on-field Buddy, coach, umpire or game-day logistics helper, or register a player, through miracleleaguenin.org. Phase Two is donation-funded, so contributions to the Miracle League of Northern Indiana and the Mishawaka Parks Foundation go directly toward the next round of construction.
