The Queens universally designed playground committee is closing in on their fundraising goal.<\/p>\n
The committee is looking to raise $450,000 to build a playground that is accessible to people of all ages and abilities.<\/p>\n
The group received an unexpected $5,000 donation this week from the South Shore chapter of Autism Nova Scotia.<\/p>\n
Chairperson of the Queens universally designed playpark committee Debbie J Wamboldt says she had no idea the money was coming, despite the fact she is a member of the local Autism NS chapter.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t have any say in this,\u201d said Wamboldt. \u201cIt was something that the chapter wanted to do. They\u2019ve supported the park from the very beginning and of course, our mandate is inclusion.\u201d<\/p>\n
The committee has raised $356,000 of the $450,000 needed to build the play park. They\u2019ve received funding from three levels of government totalling $260,000, private donations of $10,000 from Telus and $50,000 from the J and W Murphy Foundation and approximately $36,000 from local community groups and individual donors.<\/p>\n
The Region of Queens also donated the land at 72 Old Cobbs Barn Road, which will situate the play park next to the skate park and across from Queens Place.<\/p>\n
Wamboldt says because the site is close to amenities but away from traffic and water it\u2019s ideal for autistic children like hers, who may wander off.<\/p>\n
It was a drive with her son a few years ago that motivated Wamboldt to push for the inclusive play park.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you\u2019re a kid and you see all the other kids playing, we had a moment in the car where we drove by and he was crying in the back seat, asking me why we can\u2019t go and we can\u2019t play at a park with his friends. Because the parks are not safe for children with flight risks or children with disabilities,\u201dsaid Wamboldt.<\/p>\n
She says the group plans to break ground on the park sometime this spring.<\/p>\n
They still need to issue a request for proposals, but Wamboldt says once a builder is selected, construction shouldn\u2019t take longer than six weeks.<\/p>\n
She admits the group is a bit concerned about starting work on the site without having the full amount in hand but says the support they\u2019ve received to this point gives them confidence the funding will come through.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know, we\u2019re throwing a Hail Mary and we\u2019re really going for it,\u201d said Wamboldt. \u201cBehind the scenes we\u2019re pushing, we\u2019re looking at grants, we\u2019re looking at who can we approach, who would be interested in having a hand in building this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wamboldt says as far as she knows, the universally designed playpark will be the only one of its kind in Atlantic Canada, making it a draw for people from all around.<\/p>\n
She\u2019s excited the park will serve as an example of what inclusive design can mean.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce you make things accessible to people with disabilities, you make them accessible to everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n