Press release from Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation:
Fort Wayne’s Boundless Playground Needs Votes for $70,000
Only three competitors up for prize!
Mark your calendars and help bring Indiana’s first Boundless Playground to Fort Wayne. CVS and Pepsi are holding a special on-line Pepsi Challenge competition between just three Boundless Playground projects! The project with the most votes wins $70,000. Usually, many more competitors battle for Pepsi Challenge grant money, which makes the odds of victory this time much greater for Taylor’s Dream Boundless Playground.
Citizens are urged to vote every day, August 17 – September 28 at www.boundless.refresheverything.com. The polls don’t open until August 17, but voters can register in advance.
The Fort Wayne Boundless Playground initiative began two years ago with the vision and dream of Taylor Reuille, who was 11 years old at the time. She realized that there were children with disabilities who couldn’t play at many playgrounds, researched the topic and found that a Boundless Playground would offer amazing play opportunities for children with and without disabilities, including those with physical, sensory, developmental and cognitive disabilities. Calling on the Mayor for his support, Taylor launched a public fundraising campaign called Taylor’s Friendship Circle. In August of 2008, Taylor and her mother, Kasandra Booher, presented the first Boundless Playground private contribution to the Mayor totaling $10,758.43. These proceeds came from small fundraisers, including funds contributed by Taylor’s teachers and fellow classmates at Harlan Elementary. City Council members and representatives from Turnstone and The League for the Blind & Disabled also added their support to the project.
Fort Wayne’s Boundless Playground in Kreager Park will be a completely barrier-free playground for ALL children with and without disabilities. It will include the features and amenities that address the needs of children with physical, developmental, cognitive and sensory disabilities. For those with disabilities, this Boundless Playground will offer a unique opportunity, one not found elsewhere in Indiana at this time, to experience barrier-free play without exclusion. The access will be especially valuable for parents and other family members who will be able to enjoy the same barrier-free access and the ability to join their children in play activities. This playground is estimated to cost $1.3 million and will include three circular pods of play equipment and activity areas, a splashpad for water play, safe surfaces including poured-in-place rubber, four shade structures, walkways, and full accessibility.
For details about the Boundless Playground and ways to donate online to the campaign, visit www.fortwayneparks.org or call 260-427-6000. Checks made payable to the Fort Wayne Park Foundation may be sent to 705 E. State Blvd., Fort Wayne, IN 46805.