Excitement is in the air as a new inclusive playground opens! Come join the celebration and explore the fun!
We’re Bruce and Karen Carlson. We recently moved to the Metro East area of Illinois. It’s a whole new world out there. Our goal with this website is to share our exploration of the Metro East area. As we find businesses and services we use in our daily lives, we’ll share how these businesses and services have helped make our lives better and easier to live.
We’re calling our move to the Metro East area retirement, but we’re not quite sure what that means. By sharing our story with you, we hope you too will gain a better sense of what the Metro East area has to offer and how their businesses and services can improve your lives and build a better community.
Sometimes it’s just nice to go out and enjoy the day. Today was one of those times. As it worked out there was also a ribbon cutting at the community park for the All-Abilities playground in O’Fallon. The turnout was great and hot chocolate and cookies made it even better.
Grand Opening of Inclusive Playground Sparks Excitement
The playground at OFallon Community Park is a beacon of inclusivity, where children of all abilities can come together to play and learn. Like a kite soaring in the sky, the grand opening of the All-Abilities playground was an uplifting event for the entire community.
With generous donations from the Fraternal Order of the Police Lodge #198 and service organizations, OFallon is leading the way in providing accessible play spaces and promoting a message of acceptance.
Key Takeaways
– The playground is ADA-accessible and allows children of different development stages to play together, promoting inclusivity and fun regardless of differences.
– The Fraternal Order of the Police Lodge #198 donated $25,000 for naming rights, highlighting the involvement of the OFallon Police Department in supporting Special Olympics.
– Inclusive playgrounds remove barriers for children with special needs, promoting social connections, and active play, and providing a welcoming environment for all children.
Naming Rights
At the grand opening, the naming rights for the all-abilities playground were revealed, courtesy of a generous $25,000 donation from the Fraternal Order of the Police Lodge #198. The OFallon Police Department has been heavily involved in supporting the Special Olympics and is among the top fundraising departments in the state for the Law Enforcement Torch Run.
The playground’s name at the grand opening was a way for children to learn inclusivity and fun regardless of differences. Funding opportunities were available for sponsors to make their names part of the project, with the Build OFallon Trust Fund budgeting the playground at $1 million. Donations were accepted to support the project and the playground and pool improvements were top priorities in the fund.
The community has shown great support for this inclusive playground, creating a welcoming environment for all children.
Community Support
The O’Fallon community has pulled together the necessary resources to develop the All-Abilities playground. In a true sense of community, this playground brings all children together. Eliminating barriers that would keep children apart. In a way creating a brave new world. From volunteer involvement to significant financial contributions, the project has created a great deal of excitement:
– Director of OFallon Parks and Recreation expresses pride in community support
– Mayor Herb Roach thanks donors, service organizations, and volunteers
– Playground part of a larger plan for upgrades in Community Park
– Donations accepted to support the project
– Sponsors had opportunities to make their names part of the project
– Budgeted at $1 million, funded by Build OFallon Trust Fund
– Community Park undergoing significant upgrades, including trails, bike paths, swimming pool, event space, and community center.
Upgrades
The All-Abilities playground is one piece of the overall updating of the entire O’Fallon Community Park. Upgrades include trails, bike paths, a swimming pool, an event space, and a community center, as part of the larger plan for the all-abilities playground.
Accessibility upgrades to the playground include play equipment and other features to accommodate people of all abilities. The budget for the project was set at $1 million, funded by the Build OFallon Trust Fund. Donations were accepted to support the project, and the community was heavily involved in the process.
The playground and pool improvements were top priorities in the fund and many sponsors had an opportunity to make their names part of the project.
Benefits
We can expect the new All-Abilities playground at OFallon Community Park to bring many physical and mental benefits to children of all abilities. Inclusive playgrounds remove barriers, allowing for social connections and active play, regardless of any differences.
Benefits include:
– Physical Development:
– Accessible to all abilities
– Social Connections
– Active play
– Mental Development:
– Welcoming environment
– Inclusivity
– Fun
Grand Opening
Building on the momentum of generous donations and strong community support, the grand opening of the all-abilities playground at OFallon Community Park was on Monday, Oct. 30 at 4:30 p.m. The event was a memorable one, offering a chance to celebrate the playground’s accessibility features, community involvement, and recognition of the Fraternal Order of the Police Lodge #198 for its donation of naming rights.
The playground offers an inclusive environment for children of different development stages to play together, free of barriers. It is ADA-accessible and replaces the aging playground, part of a larger plan for upgrades to the Community Park that includes trails, bike paths, a swimming pool, event space, and a community center.
At the grand opening, Mayor Herb Roach thanked donors, service organizations, and volunteers who helped make the playground a reality. The OFallon Police Department has been an especially strong supporter, among the top fundraising departments in the state for the Law Enforcement Torch Run. The playground’s name will be revealed at the grand opening, a way for children to learn inclusivity and fun regardless of differences.
Priorities
As part of its continuing commitment to providing inclusive play spaces, the City of OFallon budgeted $1 million from the Build OFallon Trust Fund for the playground and pool improvements, which were its top two priorities. With budget allocation and community engagement, the project was able to move forward:
– Donations accepted to support the project
– Sponsors had opportunities to make their names part of the project
– Community Park undergoing significant upgrades
The grand opening of the playground was a major milestone for the City of OFallon. It showed the commitment and dedication to providing recreational opportunities for all, regardless of special needs and abilities.
The playground and pool improvements were a much-needed upgrade for the community and its residents.
Conclusion
In the grand opening of OFallon Community Park’s All-Abilities playground, we witness the transformative power of community collaboration. This playground isn’t just about swings and slides; it’s a symbol of inclusivity and acceptance. It teaches children that differences don’t matter when it comes to having fun. It’s a reminder that when a community comes together, barriers crumble, and joy prevails. In a world that often feels divided, the playground stands as a beacon of togetherness, showing that inclusivity isn’t just a word; it’s a shared experience we can all learn from and cherish.
We hope you are enjoying these articles and are willing to continue to follow along as we share our adventures of learning about life in southern Illinois, This is an exciting area and we are so happy to be part of this area. Our lives are being fulfilled by the people we are meeting. Bruce & Karen.
Other pictures from the ribbon-cutting
We’re Bruce and Karen Carlson. We recently moved to the Metro East area of Illinois. This area is east of St. Louis from the Mississippi River north to Alton, east to Carlyle, back south to Waterloo and the Mississippi River, finally north to Columbia. The center is Fairview Heights, Swansea, Belleville, Shiloh, and O'Fallon. Not to be forgotten is Southern Illinois University (SIU) in Edwardsville. It’s a whole new world out there. Our goal with this website is to share our exploration of the Metro East area. As we find businesses and services we use in our daily lives, we’ll share how these businesses and services have helped make our lives better and easier to live.
We’re calling our move to the Metro East area retirement, but we’re not quite sure what that means. By sharing our story with you, we hope you too will gain a better sense of what the Metro East area has to offer and how their businesses and services can improve your lives and build a better community.
