By AMY JONES / Associate Editor

HOOVER — A Shelby County architectural firm is doing its part to make the sport of baseball accessible for children with special needs.

The city of Hoover selected Barry Davis Architects to design the Hoover Miracle Field, which will serve the Miracle League, a baseball league for children who have medical issues that prevent them from playing in regular youth leagues.

Olivia Davis of Barry Davis Architects said the field will be located at the Hoover East Sports Complex on Old Rocky Ridge Road, and will include a field with a cushioned rubberized surface to help prevent injuries, wheelchair-accessible dugouts and a completely flat surface to serve wheelchair-bound or visually impaired players.

“Not only is the project a step forward for the city of Hoover, one of our most loyal clients, but Barry Davis Architects has an ongoing connection with those in the community who have disabilities,” Davis said in an email. “This project is another way for our family and business to serve those in our community with disabilities.”

The project has been in the works for more than a year, and architects began designing the project a few weeks ago. The budget for the project has not been finalized, but construction is slated to begin in early summer 2013, Olivia Davis said.

This is the first project of its kind in Hoover, she said.

In a press release, Barry Davis said he feels privileged to play a part in the Miracle Field’s development.

“The ability to provide recreation facilities and services for those with disabilities is a sign that Hoover is growing in all the right ways,” Davis said in the release.