A baseball player and a coach in purple "Horizon Baseball" shirts share a high-five on the field, capturing a winning moment for the Horizon Blog.

Community Builds the Horizon League

Quality of life in Acworth is built around a community that continuously shows up and comes together for impactful change, and nothing demonstrates this better than The Horizon League. What started in 2006 as a simple conversation about the need for an adaptive sports space for Acworth’s special needs community, soon grew into a collaboration of generosity and advocacy. This led to the founding of the Special Needs Development Group and a remarkable community effort to build The Horizon Field.

An adult helps a young child holding a blue bat prepare to hit while another adult pitches during a baseball game on a sunny day, creating a perfect moment for the Horizon Blog.

The Special Needs Development Group is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to provide children and adults with physical, social, and cognitive disabilities the opportunity to participate in adaptive athletic, social, and cultural programs. The group is championed by Lauren Ham, the Acworth Parks, Recreation, and Community Resource Department’s Therapeutics Coordinator, who has been there from the very start!

In 2008, the City of Acworth and community leaders launched a fundraising campaign to build the inclusive special needs sports facility, with an original fundraising goal of $1.2 million. Support poured in from every corner — from $1 donations to anonymous gifts of $250,000, with public funding totaling $500,000, and hundreds of thousands of dollars in in-kind services. Community members even walked the bases of the newly opened field for 24 hours straight, in order to help raise programming funds. Because of the incredible efforts of the Acworth community and City staff, on April 16, 2009, The Horizon Field officially opened its doors.

Since opening in 2009, the Special Needs Development Group has served more than 500 athletes with more than 1,000 volunteers supporting them each season. Over 40 organizations from local high schools, churches, and nonprofit organizations come out each year and are paired with the athletes to assist and encourage them during games, creating meaningful one-on-one connections.

Outside of the Horizon League, the therapeutics program under the Acworth Parks, Recreation, and Community Resource Department also offers fun and unique craft days, indoor exercise classes, day trips, summer camps, and so much more for our special needs community! These connections and opportunities are incredibly impactful for everyone involved — one Horizon athlete, Amos Runyan, wrote to Lauren Ham in a heartfelt letter stating, "you gave me the gift of being an athlete and I'm so grateful!"

 

A person stands at home plate holding a baseball bat, preparing to hit, while three others watch from behind the fence—capturing a classic moment perfect for a Horizon Blog feature.
Players in red and blue shirts line up and shake hands on a baseball field, with trees, parked cars, and a partly cloudy sky in the background—a picture-perfect moment for the Horizon Blog.

The 2026 Horizon Ability Gala: Glitz, Glamour & Giving will be held on Friday, March 20, at Tanyard Creek Overlook at the Acworth Community Center. This elegant, Roaring Twenties-inspired evening is the largest annual fundraiser supporting the Special Needs Development Group and the Horizon League, and features live entertainment, culinary delights, and a silent auction. Every dollar raised goes directly back into programming, supporting adaptive equipment, quality uniforms, facility improvements, and new program opportunities that foster growth, connection, and joy for the Horizon athletes.

Since the founding in 2009, the Special Needs Development Group has implemented a wide range of athletic, social, and cultural opportunities designed to meet participants where they are and celebrate their abilities. With a strong commitment to inclusion, they continue to give their participants the ability to thrive within their community!