In the 1970's Robert "Bob" P. Miller stood up for the Little League baseball players of Delray Beach. He petitioned Mayor Jack Saunders and the City Commission for a regulation size, lighted little league baseball field because Delray Beach was the only city at the time between Vero Beach and Key West that didn't have one. Taking his request under consideration, the mayor and commission appointed Bob to be the chairman of a committee to research and start the process of building the field. Committee member Ken Ellingsworth helped the city apply for the Bicentennial Grant for $250,000, the largest grant ever given in the State of Florida. With the grant they were able to purchase the property near the transfer station off SW 4th Ave. The county helped build the park and a field called "Little Fenway", a replica of Fenway Park and it's "Green Monster", the left field wall in Fenway in Boston, Massachusetts.
The committee voted to name the new park after the man who started it all, Robert P. Miller. Bob wasn't done yet though. One field wasn't enough for all of the kids to play baseball in Delray Beach. He went back to the city commission and mayor and got them to add more fields to the park. The last field added to the park was Sergio Field, named after another longtime city resident and employee Fred Sergio. Bucky Dent's Baseball School, now the Elev 8 Sports Institute moved into the south end of the park and helps maintain the fields.
Today Robert P. Miller Park has been renovated and reconfigured to include three new little league fields, one major league field, two-story concession stand/press box building, Miracle League Field and concession stand building, four batting cages, major league practice infield, 3-bay storage building, new pavilion and pitching and hitting wall area. The original playground was relocated; additional parking was added, and the fencing and play surface on Little Fenway at the North end of the park was replaced. Until accidentally stumbling upon this park I had no idea this kids baseball dream existed next to the railroad tracks. What a wonderful resource for the baseball lovers of Delray Beach and all thanks to Bob Miller who wanted to make a place for the Little Leagues to play in the city he loved. read more