The image of the rainbow is stunning, and it’s timing is inspired.

Thursday night, a week after thunderstorms rained out the first attempt, Troy dedicated its new Miracle Field. Hundreds of community leaders, parents, and supporters were on hand for the event.

Thanks to the generosity of hundreds of local donors, industries such as CGI and former and state Sen. Wendell Mitchell, and the tireless effort of folks like the Troy Lions Club members, the field transitioned from dream to reality with that dedication

Designed to provide a safe, accessible playing surface for handicapped individuals, the Miracle Field opens the world of baseball to children and adults who previously couldn’t participate in the game.

And the faces of the players who took to the field in that first night’s game spoke volumes about the impact this Miracle Field will have on their lives and our community. As their parents and community leaders choked back tears, these athletes took the field, bats in hand, and played one of the most important baseball games ever in Troy. Because with the advent of the Miracle Field, we cement our commitment to provide opportunities and life-changing activities to individuals of all abilities.

To those who had the first vision for this field and those community leaders who continued to push, press and work to make it a reality, we offer a heartfelt word of thanks and appreciation. The Miracle Field truly is the crowning jewel in the city’s recreational complex, and it deserves a celebration.

And George Tarbox of CGI summed up the impact of that transition from dream to reality with a reference to the movie, “Field of Dreams” during the opening ceremony. “Tonight, we have a slice of heaven right here on this field,” Tarbox said.

When the rainbow appeared on the horizon later that evening, seeming to wrap up the field with its bow blessings, it certainly did seem like our own slice of heaven right here in Troy.