Funding of the Barrier Free Playground at Les Gove Park is more than two-thirds of the way home.
Board members of a local non-profit foundation, the Employee Recycling Program, on Monday presented a $10,000 check to the City of Auburn Parks, Arts and Recreation Department to help pay for the playground project.
Board member Tracy Ulmer called the playground “an exciting project that will allow children regardless of their mental and physical abilities to be able to play unconditionally with all children … I believe people will travel to Auburn to enjoy this facility from all over the Puget Sound.”
“This gets us to about $210,000, and our goal is $300,000,” said Daryl Faber, director of Auburn Parks, Arts and Recreation.
Faber said he expects crews to begin earth work in the next month and to celebrate the opening on June 26 in time for KidsDay.
“Right now we are starting to ask a lot of corporations in town that would typically donate construction services or fabrication services or materials such as rebar, concrete, crushed gravel, that sort of stuff. When we get done with those asks, we will be where we want to be,” Faber said.
Barrier-free playgrounds are designed with the physical, sensory and developmental abilities of all children in mind, where children of all abilities can learn together through play, developing essential life skills. Making it happen is the vision of the Imagine Play for All task force, which is working to raise money for the 32,000-plus square foot barrier-free playground and sensory garden. Its features will include:
• Universally accessible pathways and surfacing,
• Play structures configured to support all levels of development
• Ramps, bridges and transfer stations.
• Elevated sand tables, interactive walls, activity panels, and auditory elements.
• Cozy spots where everyone can gather
• Swings and bouncers with back support.
• Sensory-rich and tactile surfaces and activities that stimulate the imagination
• Equipment that provides diverse play opportunities for all, including tunnels, waist-level play areas, and other barrier-free options. A barrier-free playground far surpasses the requirements of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA).
The new playground would replace a former play structure installed in the 1960’s that is not universally accessible and badly in need of an update.
“Often, children with disabilities are left to sit and watch their able-bodied friends and siblings play and sometimes, parents or grandparents with disabilities are unable to access the playground with their able-bodied children,” said Linda Cowan, former Auburn School District Superintendent and task force member. “We want to ensure everybody has the opportunity to play together at this new barrier-free playground.”
The ERP began in 1974 as a Washington state not-for-profit foundation providing financial help for equipment and uniforms to people with disabilities for sports training. It has donated to Auburn’s programs for several years, providing funding for the Rotary Spray Park at Les Gove Park, equipment bags for Auburn’s Special Olympic athletes, and a specialized recreation trailer to carry adaptive bicycles for Auburn Specialized Recreation Cycling Program.
In addition to the ERP donation, numerous individuals, corporations, granting agencies, foundations, and service clubs have contributed, including: a $70,000 King County Youth Sports Facility grant; $10,000 from the Rotary Club of Auburn; a $5,000 Muckleshoot Charity Grant; a $3,169 City of Auburn Employee Giving Campaign; $2,500 Auburn Noon Lions Club; $2,600 Auburn Youth Council; $1,600 Soroptimist International of Auburn; $2,305 individual donations; $2,217 area businesses; $1,439.37 from Auburn School District students; and $1,000 Detlef Schrempf Foundation.
Anyone can participate in the Imagine Play for All campaign, and the following donation levels are available to help fund the project: Playground Leadership Circle ($20,000+); Playground Best Friend ($12,500-$19,999); Playground Friend ($7,500-$12,499); Playground Buddy ($2,500-$7,499); Playground Pal ($500-$2,499); Playground Companion ($100-499); Playmate ($25-99). Different recognition benefits are offered in each funding category.
Corporations, businesses, foundations, or individuals can donate too, and the Northwest Parks Foundation, the City of Auburn’s non-profit 501(c)(3) community partner, is accepting donations. To make a gift to the Imagine Play for All campaign by credit card please visit NW Park’s secure web site at www.nwparks.org, choose “donate now”, and reference Auburn’s Imagine Play for All campaign. To make a donation by mail, please send a check to the Northwest Parks Foundation, c/o Auburn Imagine Play for All, PO Box 605, Woodinville, WA 98072-0605. Matching gifts are also encouraged.
For additional details about the project, call the Auburn Parks, Arts and Recreation Department at 253-931-3043 or the Northwest Parks Foundation at 425-284-0420.
