We brought this pilot program to life in 2010, when our Middleburg Heights, Brook Park, and Berea Special Olympics group took on the challenge to launch Young Athletes Cleveland. We spread the word throughout our communities with flyers and by word of mouth. We created a website and Facebook page for families to gain information about the new program. Word spread rapidly and the applications started flowing in. We went to the Middleburg Heights Recreation Center with our ideas for programming, sat down with Carl Guarnieri, and the rest is history. Middleburg Heights Rec is known for its tremendous support of and partnership with the special needs community.