People are growing more than potatoes in Idaho. They are cultivating unity and awareness.
In December of 2003, Physical Therapist Lisa Hamilton saw a need for a change for differently abled children in her area. After working with children who wouldn't be able to access a playground with a wheelchair or walker, she decided to spearhead an effort to build a universally accessible playground. By April of 2004, the committee was formed, and members were brainstorming to figure out just what they could do to make this happen. So they traveled to the only other playground of this nature in Idaho, Adventure Island, to see what had been done there and to help decide what elements might be needed at the playground they would build at Tautphaus Park in Idaho Falls.
After much collaboration over the next year, the committee interviewed with several different playground companies to start with, and by April of 2005, there was a tentative design in place. The design includes accessible surfacing plus many play activities at ground level, as well as ramps, making it possible for children in wheelchairs to access the decks and utilize the special slides. A sound garden is also in the works for this project.
The committee would then grow to include representatives from Kiwanis, the Development Workshop, Parent to Parent, and individuals representing other organizations and children in the area.
The land for the playground is being donated for use by the city of Idaho Falls, and the Parks and Rec Department proved to be very helpful in working with the committee to iron out the details. Beyond that, fundraising efforts have been at the top of the list, and the committee began working with the Kiwanis Club to create a game similar to Monopoly that would be called the Greater Idaho Falls Game. Area businesses were contacted to buy property on the game board, and individuals were given the opportunity to buy a VIP listing that would appear on the inner area of the game board to show support for the project. By September, 2005, enough property and listings were sold to pay for the production of the game, and the proceeds of the sales would all be given to the playground project.
The committee has launched a media campaign to sell the game and also set up shop at various events and at local businesses to sell the game. The games have been well-received by the community.
Committee members continue to work hard to bring this playground to being. The estimated cost at this point is approximately $240,000. Community businesses and individuals have been very generous in helping out. The Outback Steakhouse sponsored a fundraising luncheon in February of 2006. This fundraiser was well-supported, and the Outback was very generous in donating the venue, all-you-can-eat salmon dinner for 400, employees donated their time to serve, and 100 percent of the ticket proceeds sold by the committee were donated back to the Equal Access Playground project. The Outback does several of these fundraisers each year, and really went all out to help make this fundraiser a success. A raffle for a plane ride was also engineered by committee member Darla Hoff.
A certain number of tickets need to be sold to raffle them off, so this is something the committee planned on taking to several events throughout the fundraising period.
Fundraising is now the order of the day as the committee works toward a one-day build slated for September 16, 2006. They are looking for volunteers for all areas of the build, and fundraising helps along the way.
Another fundraising event that has been scheduled is a golf scramble at the Pinecrest Municipal Golf Course in Idaho Falls. The afternoon of June 15 is the time, and there will be prizes raffled off as well as contests throughout the course. It will be an 18-hole shotgun start, with a light luncheon and an award ceremony afterward. This is one of those fundraisers you can't help but have a good time at, whether you are a scratch golfer or just out for the first time. It's all about getting out with your friends and family and helping out a very worthy cause.
One of the great things about this project is that it benefits children of all abilities as well as parents. We probably don't think about this much, but there are times when a normally-abled child has a differently-abled parent. How sweet it is to think of them also being able to enjoy a playground together. There are some great groups, such as Parent to Parent, which is a local non-profit organization that provides support to families who have children with disabilities, involved in bringing this playground into being. A lot can be said for the unity this project is creating in the community, as well as for the awareness it brings about for those who might not be directly involved with differently-abled individuals on a daily basis.
With this playground, children are given the opportunity to understand that everyone is different in some way, and these differences can be celebrated rather than feared. This truly can help give a stronger sense of community for all.
Spiffing Up Bel Aire
Other playgrounds in the city of Idaho Falls have also been under construction to some degree, and the Parks and Rec has done a fine job with this and keeping up with maintenance on them. Picture this. It's almost too hot to play outside, somewhere around 80 degrees, and at least one of the playgrounds is in need of new surfacing. It's not a problem for the user because there are quite a few playgrounds in the area to choose from, so he goes on to the next one.
The Parks and Rec doesn't have it so easy. The Bel Aire playground is in greater need than some, so it's time to get the job done before winter hits and it's too cold to think about resurfacing, and a couple of feet of snow on the ground to boot. So, they tackle the job in the sweltering heat. All they have to do is throw down the squares, glue them together, and it's done, right? Not even close. Probably the easiest thing about this project is the fact that the funds were raised through a grant, not that that is ever an easy thing. Grant writers have their work cut out for them, but the city was able to get a grant for this project.
First, they had to remove the old surfacing, wood chips, which will be recycled for fill in another play area. Then, using a chisel, these guys had to chip away part of the interior portion of the railroad ties that border the playground. Can you imagine doing that in 80-degree weather for a couple of days? These guys did what they had to do to get the job done well. Then comes the next surprise, the ground is not so level. Who would have thought? Well, it happens that the area underneath this playground is lava rock, which is one reason the playground is built up instead of dug into the ground in the first place. They still had to dig in certain areas to plant the equipment poles, but at least they didn't have to dig up all that rock.
So, enter the fill dirt that they would cart in by wheelbarrow and walla, they are finally able to finish the job, replacing the surface of the playground. I wasn't easy, but the results are fabulous.
