When my daughter was little, she loved going to the park. Jenna's tiny Nike shoes with pink hearts flew off her feet whenever she pumped hard to make the swings go even higher.

I remember the loud giggles that erupted whenever I pushed her "real fast, Mommy" on the steel merry-go-round, now replaced by colorful plastic. I can still see her holding on tightly as her dark hair covered her eyes, heightening her experience of free play.

Jenna is now an 18-year-old college freshman, but I'll always cherish those moments spent in the park. I didn't realize what a gift they were until my son's disability kept him from accessing the same playground. That's why I'm excited about The All Kids' Playground, an accessible, interactive playground with special needs resources for children of special needs being built in DeWitt, Michigan.

The playground is the result of a couple of special needs parents' vision. Along the way, though, it has become a dream for the whole community. The park is a place where all kids can play side by side.

Boudless Playgrounds Across the Nation

There are now more than 100 acessible playgrounds in the United States, according to the National Center for Boundless Playgrounds, a nonprofit Connecticut-based organization. Michigan is a leader in the field, along with Florida, Connecticut and Maryland.

Some features of boundless playgrounds are:

  • Every child can reach the highest play deck
  • Play structures configured to support children’s development
  • Universally accessible pathways and surfacing
  • Cozy spots where everyone can gather
  • Equipment like swings and bouncers with back support
  • Elevated sand tables and activity panels where children of all abilities can play together
  • Sensory-rich activities that let the imagination soar

Parent Power at Work

Beth Frayer's mission began simply enough. She wanted her daughters to be able to swing side by side.

"When I discovered there was no community playground with true accessiblity for kids with disabilities, I asked, why?" Frayer says. "We expect Katie to be included, not excluded."

Katie is an enchanting 5-year-old kindergartner who loves playing tag with the neighborhood kids in her new power wheelchair. She was born with a rare form of arthrogryposis, causing tight muscles and joints and limiting her range of motion. Katie's big sister, Megan, is a bright and charming 9-year-old fifth-grader who loves social science.

Beth Frayer spent hours researching her dream of inclusive recreation. When a friend mentioned the idea to Greg Kolankowski, Parks and Recreation Director for the city of DeWitt, the wheels of the project began turning. "Everything fell into place," Frayer says. "Greg has taken our dream to a whole new level."

"We wanted something all kids could enjoy without turning it into a Taj Mahal for children with disabilities," adds Dave Frayer, Katie's dad. "Greg has done a great job of keeping things in perspective, while enlisting the local support required to make it happen." 

Community Pitches In

Community support first came from Joyce Wilson-Dempski, managing broker of Looking Glass, Inc, a local realtor and builder. She'd spent a year looking for a community project to support but nothing fit, until she called Kolankowski. "We often forget about families of children with special needs," Wilson-Dempski says. "This idea touched my heart."

Looking Glass built an accessible playhouse that was raffled off during the 2001DeWitt Ox Roast, earning $4,000 for the project. Looking Glass is now building a second playhouse for the playground.

Pat and Jim Sebrell wanted to honor their youngest daughter's memory. They found the perfect answer in the 5K race held each year in the community. Kellie was a member of DeWitt High School's Cross-Country Team. She died suddenly in 1999 from complications of a virus.

"We wanted a project Kellie would support," Pat Sebrell explains. "The focus on kids really drew us to the playground, especially because it was for children with special needs. Kellie was drawn to helping kids who needed a little extra help," Sebrell says.

She credits race organizers Greg Pratt and Rita Wieber for renaming the race in honor of Kellie, a babysitter for the Pratt family. Race proceeds account for $3,500 of the playground's budget.

Few understand this simple concept better than Katie's big sister. "I think it's really cool that there will finally be a place where all kids can play together," Megan says smiling.

"The All Kids Playground is for both of our daughters," Beth Frayer adds. "It will be a place where they can play and just be sisters, and all kids will benefit."


 

Judy Winter is a mother and freelance writer.