Spirit Lake, Iowa — A non-profit group in the Lakes region that’s been buying bicycles for children with disabilities is aiming to raise a million dollars to build a playground in Spirit Lake.
Maria Mellman is a spokeswoman for Hope Rolls of Dickinson County. She says they plan to install a smooth, non-slip surface on the playground so it’ll be accessible for wheelchairs, walkers and strollers.
(As above) “The main equipment will have ramps to go up, so you can push a wheelchair up if you need to. We’re getting a We-Go-Swing, which you wheel the wheelchair right up into it and you can swing with a guardian or a friend; a wheelchair merry-go-round,” she says. “We’re also including an obstacle course, kind of like a Ninja Warrior course, for able-bodied kids 13 and older.”
They’re also planning to install balance and motion equipment that’s popular with senior living facilities. Mellman says the playground is planned on land owned by Spirit Lake schools that is directly east of the football stadium.
(As above) “It’ll actually benefit the special needs of Spirit Lake Community School District as well,” Mellman says, “but it will be a community park open to anyone in the area that lives here or any tourists that come to visit.”
While the park is being designed for people of all ages, Mellman says it would fill a void in northwest Iowa as there are few inclusive playgrounds for children with disabilities.
(As above) “The closest one is in Sioux City, so 111 miles away,” Wellman says. “We figured if we did a 45 mile radius, there’s not a fully inclusive park in that 45 mile radius, and it’ll benefit about 53 towns.”
Mellman says an inclusive playground ensures kids of different abilities can use and play on the same equipment at the same time.
