[Ohio-talk] FW: Athens' First Accessible Playground

[Cheryl Fields]

JW,
I am in total agreement with you. One of the areas that we should be
stronger in is having our voice heard while plans for new construction
are on the table and not  after construction is finished. This takes
some real vigilance, expertise, and patience. We have many new
projects in the Cleveland area and we are not involved at the planning
stage.
We have a park like yours in Beachwood, Ohio, Preston's Hope. It is
very nice and is well maintained and many children find it a fun
place. The Cleveland Sight Center has a accessible playground under
construction, maybe the next time you are in the area it will be
complete and you can have a swing. smiles
It is hot, stay hydrated and find a cool place to hang out.
Blessings,
Cheryl Fields

Heat, ma'am! it was so dreadful here, that I found there was nothing
left for it but to take off my flesh and sit in my bones. ~Sydney
Smith, Lady Holland's Memoir



On 7/18/13, Smith, JW <smithj at ohio.edu> wrote:
> I think that this is a  good step in the right direction but you should all
> know that I am always reminding efforts and people like these to not forget
> about those of us that are blind and visually impaired in these kind of
> endeavors and most importantly, to get our input and feedback before
> implementation.
>
> Jw
>
> Dr. JW Smith
> Associate Professor
> Interim Director of Honors Tutorial Studies
> School of Communication Studies
> Lasher Hall, Rm. 112
> Athens, OH 45701
> smithj at ohio.edu<mailto:smithj at ohio.edu>
> T: 740-593-4838
> F: 740-593-4810
>
> *Ask me about the newly revised Ohio Fellows Program or visit
> http://www.ohio.edu/univcollege/ohiofellows.cfm
>
> "Regarding the past, change what you can, and can what you can't."
> "Our minds are like parachutes. They work best when they are open."
>
> From: Butcher, Joan
> Sent: Wednesday, July 17, 2013 9:26 AM
> To: Purdy, Darrell; Lonsinger, Linda; Myers, Laura; Blickle, Ruth; Bouvier,
> Dianne; Jordan, Jennifer; Martin, Lacey; Krumel, Mark; Smith, JW;
> mbeaver at athenscbdd.org; Lewis, Carolyn
> Subject: Athens' First Accessible Playground
>
> FYI........
>
>
>
> http://woub.org/2013/07/16/athens-first-accessible-playground-open
>
> Athens' First Accessible Playground Open
>
>
> After three years in the making, Athens now has a playground accessible to
> nearly everyone. Athens Rotary Club and community members gathered at the
> playground Monday afternoon for the grand opening.
>
> The Athens Rotary Southside Accessible Playground is the first of its kind
> in Athens.
>
> The playground, which is located on Dairy Lane and Richland Avenue, is
> complete with swings, ramps, playground equipment and rubber surfacing that
> makes playtime possible for average children and for those with various
> physical and developmental disabilities.
>
> The new equipment even makes it easier for adults who may have physical
> disabilities or be confined to wheelchairs. The sidewalk on Richland Avenue
> and the bike path now go through the park, as well, states a news release.
>
> Jody Harris, past president of Rotary Club and chairwoman of the Southside
> Accessible Playground Committee, listed contributions from organizations
> such as Sisters of St. Joseph Charitable Fund, Athens Foundation, O'Bleness
> Foundation and Friends of India Endowment, along with many more.
>
> The Rotary Club raised $97,000 for the project. To further beautify the
> park, the Athens Rotary teamed up with Project Plant to create the Dr. Ram
> Gawande Memorial Garden. Gawande was a Rotary Club president and district
> governor.
>
> "I think it turned out wonderful," Harris said.
>
> Harris said she has been working with people with disabilities her whole
> life. When she heard the Rotary Club in Cambridge had an accessible
> playground, she was inspired to build one in Athens.
>
> "This is why I love Athens," said Mayor Paul Wiehl. "This is what we want to
> be. We want to be unique. We want to be a community that feels good about
> itself, that works towards and strives to make it an inclusive city."
>
> Wiehl said that he wants every Athens facility to work for everybody.
>
> Harris said that the rubber surfacing on the playground is what really makes
> it accessible for everyone.
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-- 
Peace