A month after a $2 million federal grant to renovate Hickey Field was announced, Rockville Centre Little League officials say the impact is already being felt, especially within its Challenger Division, where accessibility limitations have long shaped participation.
The funding, unveiled by Congresswoman Laura Gillen during Opening Day on April 18, has brought excitement and relief across the program.
For Challenger organizers, the investment goes beyond routine upgrades, directly addressing barriers that have limited access for players with physical and intellectual challenges.
“We’re in our 12th or 13th year, and this is something we’ve been waiting for a long time to allow all the kids in walkers, wheelchairs, if they want to come down and play and join the league,” said chairman Mike Lawless, who co-runs the division with Gene Kirley.
Launched in 2012, the Challenger Division was created largely through Kirley’s efforts after his daughter Bryn, was born with Down syndrome. With support from families and special needs organizations, the program provides a free, adaptive baseball experience for players, many from outside Rockville Centre.
The Challenger players meet every Sunday at Hickey Field from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. They are paired with buddies and given chances to hit, field, and run the bases in front of supportive crowds.
Lawless said the field’s current conditions present ongoing challenges, including uneven terrain, inaccessible restrooms and limited entry points.
“The bathrooms are not ADA functional, the gate access is not ADA accessible,” he said.
Environmental conditions can also impact players in ways that go beyond typical field issues.
“When it’s windy and dry, that dirt is blowing around, and it really affects their eyes and their breathing sometimes,” Lawless said.
Planned improvements include turf, repaved pathways and ADA-compliant facilities, upgrades expected to improve safety and allow greater use of the field.
“It means a lot,” Lawles said. “We can play almost year-round, even in colder months when we get those warm days,” Lawless said.
League president Pete Klugewicz said accessibility was central to securing the grant.
“The whole angle with Laura getting that $2 million was that it’s going to be redoing Hickey and turfing it now makes it accessible for the special needs players,” he said. He added the project has been “three years in the making.”
While broader upgrades are planned, officials say Hickey Field remains the priority, especially for Challenger families.
“The families are ecstatic,” Lawless said, noting participation in the Little League’s Opening Day parade on April 18, where players rode in classic cars.
Though a construction timeline has not been finalized, leaders say the project marks a turning point for access and inclusion in the community. They added that the upgrades will help remove physical barriers while also encouraging more families across Long Island to participate, reinforcing the league’s commitment to accessibility and community engagement for years to come as the project moves into its next phase.
