The Family Times April 2018

The Toms River Field of Dreams Mission If you build it, they will come! By Pam Teel

Toms River High School North teacher, Christian Kane, was involved in a car accident nearly five years ago. Kane's 7-year-old son, Gavin, suffered a severe brain injury as a result of the accident. Gavin, then 19 months old, was in a car seat in the backseat of Kane's car when the vehicle was rear-ended by a fully-loaded beer truck. Gavin was hospitalized for two months, paralyzed, and is still undergoing daily therapy today. He speaks through a tablet computer and moves around with the help of a specially designed wheelchair. Christian is an avid sports fan with an athletic background. His older son was in baseball leagues and other sports. Coming to the realization that Gavin was never going to be able to do anything that his older brother could do, Christian had an idea; an idea that steamrolled into something that would not only benefit his own son’s special needs but others too. This idea would soon become his main priority, Project Field of Dreams. The Toms River Field of Dreams (TRFOD) is a project with a mission to encourage and engage two communities (Monmouth and Ocean Counties), with a focus on those with special needs, in physical and social activity by building a

Christian & Mary Kane with son Gavin

community complex to provide opportunities for all individuals of all ages, all abilities, to engage, explore and socialize together. It is envisioned by parents who understand how important it is for those with special needs to have a place where they can feel normal. It is here that they will be able to enjoy the basic fundamentals of play on a rubberized baseball field and be able to play nine holes of miniature golf on a wheelchair accessible course. Upon completion of the Park they willhave the use of specially made state of the artplayground,a rubberized basketball court, bocce and shuffleboard, use of a handicap equipped zip line, and a complementary snack shack. There will also be a multi sensory walking path with rehabilitative stations. When the project is finished, it will be opened to all residents of surroundingtowns and counties. It will benefit individuals of all ages, abilities and needs. The TRFOD will provide engaging inter-active areas, events for music and art appreciation, organized leagues for special needs baseball and basketball, as well as quiet spaces for observation, reflection, and reorganizing. After the completion of the complex, the hope is to increase awareness of their special needs community and provide an inclusive environment in which all can play and interact together. “The goal is to level the playing field, to make kids who are not typical feel better for an hour, for a day," Kane stated. He wanted Gavin and other special needs children to be able to enjoy recreational experiences like other kids, whether it be playing baseball, playing miniature golf or just swinging on a swing. According to Kane, there is no park within an hour of Toms River that offers a place for kids with special needs to play and socialize. The project will be started this summer with a goal to finish the project by 2019. Kane has already received a lot of support from members of the philanthropic and business communities in the surrounding area, as well as the Toms River Elks Lodge 1875, The Blue Claws Minor league baseball team, and others. Also through people who have heard about the project and voluntarily stepped up to help. People like Skip Bariscillo, who heard about the project through a friend, and since lastChristmas Eve, has been advocating to help raise funds for the project. Skip knows what it’s like to be handicapped after suffering an accident ten years ago that left himwith extensive disabilities. He knows firsthand how it feels to desire to be a part of something that used to be normal for him and now he can’t be a part of it because of his physical limitations. Christian’s main motivation is to make everyone feel “typical”. For Skip, he believes this type of facility is “necessary”. He believes Toms River Field of Dreams is “necessary to make everyone feel typical”. This facility will allow families to enjoy activities along with their handicapped child or adult and make them feel a part of the whole experience. Skip helps out wholeheartedly with the project because he wants to help Christian make everyone feel “typical”. You can also help make this Dream become a reality. If you are a business or an organization or just want to donate or find out more about the Toms River Field of Dreams project, go to www.tomsriverfieldofdreams.com. Check out the upcoming fundraiser events online and ways to help Field of Dreams. Contact Christian Kane directly at 732-998-3667, or by email at greatdad37@yahoo.com Facebook: Toms River Field of Dreams.

48

Family Times

APRIL 2018