By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
As the volunteers struggled to piece together a slide, they knew that it would soon be thrilling children of all abilities. And as they looked over the equipment scattered around the site, they knew they had a great responsibility.
“It’s like an IKEA set on steroids,” said Ryan Wichman, president of Wood County Plays, the organization behind the new inclusive playground being built in Bowling Green’s Carter Park.
“It’s tedious, but everybody’s got a really positive attitude,” Wichman said. “It’s hard to not have a good day when you are putting a playground together.”
After months of planning and fundraising, the inclusive playground was taking shape on Wednesday. As Wichman looked out over the site, he saw people from all walks of life rolling up their sleeves to help piece together the equipment.
“This is a workday for people,” he said, noting that many took days off to help with the playground. “It really shows a sense of community.”
One of those volunteers was Trevor Jessee, of the Bowling Green Rotary Club. He helped assemble a slide and worked on an adaptive swing that can be used by people who use wheelchairs and those who do not.
“This is ultimately creating a space where all our kids can play together,” Jessee said.
The park will make a difference for countless families in the community, he said.
“This will affect many people. Their passion, their story is something easy to rally around,” Jessee said. “I’m just excited to be a part of it.”
Putting together a roller slide Wednesday were Heidi Crawford and Teresa Lutz, who work in early intervention with the Wood County Board of Developmental Disabilities.
“We have a lot of kids on our caseload who can now have a great place to play,” Crawford said.
Lutz called the playground “a gift” and said she plans to bring children in the early intervention program to use the site.
“It’s a place where they can socialize with other kids,” Crawford said.
Kim Paxton and Dan Stump, members of the Aktion Club through Kiwanis and Wood Lane, were headed to help install a rope at the playground.
“We helped out at the first one in Perrysburg, and when we got the call to help here, we accepted it right away,” Paxton said.
“It helps out people who need this,” Stump said.
Children and adults of all abilities will be welcomed at the Rally Cap Sports Inclusive Playground. It will provide individuals, who are physically, mentally, or emotionally challenged, the opportunity to grow and learn through sensory-stimulating activities and peer-to-peer interactions.
The playground will be wheelchair and walker accessible through extensive ramping, rubber surfacing, and specialized play equipment. Fencing will surround the playground for children with sensory disorders who may run away. The poured rubber surfacing is coded for children with visual impairments to highlight danger areas.
There will be a giant hollow log structure that kids can roll through in their wheelchairs. There will be a 6-foot rubber hill, safe for kids to climb up or roll down. Unlike typical playgrounds, this one will have a sidewalk, not stairs to the tallest slides.
The playground will also feature the first wheelchair swing in Bowling Green, which is designed for easy access and ensures that all can experience the joy of gliding through the air. And for thrill-seekers, a seven-foot-high climbing course will challenge their ability to race to the top.
There will also be musical equipment, including a giant xylophone and drums.
The bulk of the equipment was delivered on Monday to Carter Park, where it was unpacked and sorted on Tuesday. Members of a millwright union showed up Tuesday to help with the heavy lifting, said Margie Harris, of the Wood County Plays organization.
About 40 volunteers showed up Wednesday morning, followed by another shift of about 50 in the afternoon, Harris said. The work will continue Thursday and Friday.
“It’s been really easy to fill the volunteer slots,” she said.
Stone work at the site will be done next week, to be followed by the pouring of the rubber surface.
City crews have been helping at the site, as well as workers from Palmer Excavating and Palmer Concrete.
Once the rubber surface cures and fencing is erecting, the playground will be open for business, Harris said.
“We’re hoping by mid-October that kids will be able to be out here playing,” she said.
