The Miracle Field Project’s fund-raising is about to be one step closer to completion.

With the help of a $100,000 donation from Sen. Wendall Mitchell (D-Luverne), the Miracle Field will be one-third of the way to becoming a reality.

Sometime after the first of the year, Mitchell said he plans to present the check to the Miracle League.

“For a long time I have had an interest in helping people with disabilities, and when I saw this particular program and the good it could do, it really got me excited,” Mitchell said. “So, I thought I would help them in a big way.”

The Miracle Field project, which will create a baseball field for handicap children and adults to play ball, has been under way for around a year now, and they currently have $26,300 to go toward the $300,000 project. This donation will put them many steps ahead.

Parks and Recreation Director Dan Smith said he wasn’t expecting this type of donation, but he is more than happy to receive it on behalf of the Miracle Field.

“Sen. Mitchell said, ‘How does $100,000 sound?’” Smith said. “And I said, ‘Sen. Mitchell, I don’t know what to say.’”

Mitchell said his entire legislative career has been centered on assisting those with disabilities.

In 2001, he was given a National Legislative Award as Legislator of the Year.

The future home of the Miracle Field was donated by the city at the Sportsplex, and by April 2010, they hope it will be open for use.

Troy Mayor Jimmy Lunsford said this donation puts a dent in the project’s timeline.

“That will really help get the project on a schedule where we can get it done,” Lunsford said. “It looks like it will be closer to becoming a reality.”

The fund-raising group said they are also ready to begin applying for several grants, in hopes of getting a jump on the project’s construction.

Mitchell said he will announce his donation sometime after the first of the year, and he hopes it will be done quickly.