Children help with playground
Area kids give input on Junior League projectBy DAVE PAYNE Sr., dpayne@newsandsentinel.com
Article Photos
PARKERSBURG - What better playground designers could one find than a group of children?
That's what the Junior League of Parkersburg had in mind when it asked children what they would like to see in the planned JuLePs Pathways all-inclusive playground at City Park during a Play and Design Day event Sunday at First Presbyterian Church.
Using construction paper, modeling clay and other mediums, children created models of playground equipment that could be used by all children, regardless of their abilities.
Julie Kerns of the Junior League said the children produced some very creative ideas.
"One girl with a vision impairment said she would like a red line in front of the swings so she wouldn't walk too close and get knocked over. They have had a lot of ideas for swings that all children can swing on and they want different levels to play on," she said.
One of those multi-level ideas was submitted by Gracie Staats, 11, of Vienna. Her idea was to create a second level on the tunnels of tires, a common feature for many playgrounds, where children in wheelchairs could cross above while other children crawled through the tire tunnels beneath.
She also thought of a merry-go-round large enough to hold several children, but instead of being powered by children running alongside, children use their hands to power it by turning themselves on a central axis.
Many children at Sunday's event also learned about what it is like to live with various impairments. At one station, children maneuvered a three-dimensional obstacle course while in wheelchairs and in another, they wore goggles for a glimpse of what it is like to live with a vision impairment.
The Junior League has aligned itself with Boundless Playgrounds, a national non-profit organization dedicated to helping communities create barrier-free playgrounds. The proposed playground would replace the current City Park playground, which is not handicap accessible. Besides the fact the equipment is non-inclusive for many handicaps, it is not wheelchair accessible.
Once the playground is designed, organizers plan to shift their focus to raising funds for the playground, which could cost between $300,000 and $500,000. People may already order engraved bricks that will be used at the playground.
Those interested helping with the playground project or who want more information, may call (304) 422-6961 or visit www.jlparkersburg.org.
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claymom
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07-21-08 8:39 AM
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Have you contacted The Bubel/Aiken Foundation for grant money to build a playground for children of all abilities, along with training of staff to work with children with disabilities? They provide equipment grants and summer camp facilities/training.
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vienna1
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07-21-08 7:38 AM
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Yeah !!!! for the JL for taking in such a needed project! AND YEAH for Gracie for being such a great kid!
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Geezer
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07-21-08 4:34 AM
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Wouldn't it make more sense to retain the City Park's current playground equipment and erect the 'barrier-free' playground alongside it?
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