MAYBVM

158 159 was the largest fort built during the conflict,encom- passing an area of 255 acres.It was constructed using the labor of 4,000men and was eventuallygarrisonedwith 2,400 troops. Today,Murfreesboro’s former agricultural-based economy has been replaced by industry, manufacturing,and education; the city is home toMiddle Tennessee State University,the largest undergraduate institu- tion in the state,with 23,000 students.Its high qualityof life, with plentiful housing,excel- lent schools,and outstanding city servicesmakeMurfrees- boro not only the fastest-grow- ing city inTennessee,but also one of themost livable.“We are a young,family-oriented community,”says Jennifer Moody,Murfreesboro’sAssistant CityManager.“The average age is 30 years old.The qualityof life in the community tends to attract families,and I feel like we’re building things that are good for thewhole family.” One of the“things”that the cityof Murfreesboro recently built is a tribute both to its de- votion to its families,as well as its successful ability in attract- ing and hostingmanyyouth championship tournaments, giving the cityyet another trademarkmoniker: the Sports Capital of Tennessee. Murfreesboro’sMiracle Field officiallyopened onMay6, 2017at McKnight Park,an 81- acre communitypark located in the northern area of town. TheMiracle Field is a cus- tom-designed,special,rubberized baseball field built for children and adults with special needs and can MURFREESBORO, TENNESSEE accommodatewheelchairs and other assistive devic- es.The first Miracle League Field opened in Conyers, Georgia in 2000,and,today,there are hundreds of Mir- acle Fields across the U.S.,Canada,and evenAustralia. “This project was a collaborative effort between the David Price Foundation,Project One Four,and the Cityof Murfreesboro,”explainsThomas Laird,Athletic Superintendent-Murfreesboro Parks&RecreationDe- partment.David Price,anAll-Star,major league pitch- er,and aMurfreesboro nativewho grewup playing baseball and basketball in the city’s parks and schools, founded Project One Four in 2008.“WhenDavid first became amajor league baseball player,he participat- ed in theMiracle League inTampa,Florida,and he said that if he ever made it to a point where hewould be able to do this in his community,hewould bring the Miracle League toMurfreesboro.So,a fewyears ago, his Foundation approached the cityand hemade a commitment to purchase and build aMiracle Field.” Fundraising for theMiracle Field Complexwas