The Cherry on Top

About a year ago I heard that one of the elementary schools in town had received a grant to build an "Inclusive Playground". I was so excited to hear this and was hopeful it would have wheelchair accessible equipment. To my disappointment the "Inclusive" part meant there was equipment that is more suitable for other students with mild disabilities. At that time I decided to figure out a way to get a playground for students confined to a wheelchair. Logansport, IN, has a large population of children in wheelchairs due to a children's nursing home in town along with the children living at home.

I went to the Cass County Camelot Foundation to ask if they would support me in my efforts to raise funds to put in a playground. They were more than wiling to give me the support as this fulfilled their mission of "Putting the Cherry on Top for a special group of people".

 As you can imagine building a playground to address the needs of these indiviuals is very costly.  The equipment is specialized to be able to hold a wheelchair in place or special seating and harnessing is needed for those that can sit with supports. There also needs to be a smooth surface for the wheelchairs to be able to manuever easily. Our local community foundation awarded us a grant that has provided about half of the monies needed to install the playground. Your donation will help us achieve our goal.

Won't you help us "Put the Cherry on Top" for this special group of children?

June 2020 - meeting with playground sales rep to finalize equipment needed and anything else that we need to do.

June 2020 - once approved by Cass County Camelot Foundation the playground materials will be ordered.

June 2020 - have contacted local contractors to review playground drawings and let me know what they might be able to donate either in installation or donations.

June 2020 - begin online campaign for crowdfunding.

July 2020 - begin to plan the work schedule for building the playground.

August 2020 - preparing the playground site for building day

Sept. 11, 2020 - Build the playground with the help of Cass County United Way's Live United program. This program helps retain volunteers for various projects in the county.

Imagine yourself as a child confined to a wheelchair sitting at the edge of the playground watching your friends. You could not join your friends because your wheelchair could not go through the surface covering the ground. If by some chance you could get to the playground you still couldn’t get your wheelchair on any of the equipment. This is what it is like for individuals confined to a wheelchair. 

Cass County, specifically Logansport area does not have a wheelchair accessible playground that is available. Community playgrounds have had a wheelchair swing in the past but the swing had to be taken down due to misuse by other individuals. Logansport is unique in that it has Camelot Care Center which is a nursing home for individuals with significant disabilities. Camelot houses 75 - 85 individuals at any given time. Camelot also provides respite care for families in the area. The parents of children with disabilities in the community feel a playground to accommodate there children is much needed. Even the schools in Cass County do not have wheelchair accessible playgrounds.

Building this playground will provide a time of play and socialization with other children. It will let other communities see that providing a playground like this can open up interaction with all children no matter the abilities of each person. Friends can help their friends by fastening their chairs into place and then pushing the whirl around or they can help them wheel through the sensory maze. Everyone could make up a song as they play the outdoor instruments. A small group can enjoy riding on the glider. Can't you imagine the fun everyone will have as every individual no matter the abilities can enjoy being on a playground.