Where The Children Play

Usually, stories in this section of my webpage relate to things that I get myself involved with.  Today, I'm sharing a story about a very special community project that many other people were involved with.  Since these people were 'being the change' and making positive investments in my community, I feel that their story fits very well in this section of my webpage.

The following story is now circulating throughout my community and hard copies of the June issue of the Byron Villager can be found at the Byron Library...



Where The Children Play
As I flip through the pages of the Byron Villager magazine, I’ve been noticing a positive and inspiration trend taking shape.  In almost every issue we are seeing how our children are playing an intricate role in shaping our community.  There have been stories about our schools getting involved in Terry Fox runs, Boy Scouts and Girl Guides planting trees in neighbourhood parks, self-formed youth groups (The Byron Believers) who raise money to help families dealing with cancer… and then there was the story about One London Place rappeller, Olivia VanderScheide!!!

As I think about all of these wonderful adventures and how diligently our children are working, I can’t help but think that maybe it’s time for all of them to have a small break to enjoy a bit of play time.  Apparently, local resident, mother and home day care worker Shelah Brook and internationally known, Canadian icon Jenny Jones feel the same way!

During the summer of 2015, Jenny Jones created a truly inspirational opportunity for Londoners when she introduced a contest called ‘Hometown Heroes’.  Jones, who grew up in London, wanted to give a little something back to the place where her childhood memories were born.  She was generously offering to fund one community project to the tune of $100 000.00!

Once all of the applications had been submitted, it was time to decide which project would receive this funding.  From Jenny’s website, I was able to learn that, “more requests came in for new playgrounds than anything else.”  I believe that Brook’s proposal caught Jones’ interest because her playground was requesting many considerations to accommodate children with physical challenges.

Having taken care of several children with mobility issues as well as Autism over her thirty year career, Brook knows, first hand, how difficult it can be for some children to enjoy simple things like slides and swings.
3D computer rendering of proposed playground

I learned a lot more about the many interesting design features of this playground while speaking with London’s Parks Project Coordinator, Julie Michaud.  Michaud was very happy to share that the play equipment, “was selected because it had the most play value for our budget, and also allowed the highest accessibility. Accessibility is not only for mobility (wheelchair access), but also considers other special needs such as vision, auditory, vestibular (movements), sensory, dexterity, mutual and inclusive play.”  In the case of children with Autism, the playground offers, “quiet places, in the case of a child that needs to escape the stimulation of a busy playground.”

Shelah Brook with Day-Care children

Brook explained how this project, “started off very nicely,” and how many London city departments soon got on board.  “Then things really took off!  It was thrilling to see how our initial ideas grew to what they are today.”
Jenny Jones has doubled her original grant funding and the City of London has also made significant contributions to this effort so that this entire area of Springbank Park can be accessible to children as well as adults.  Plans are in place to build a special parking area along the park’s Flint Lane with accessible picnic tables, paved pathways leading to and around the playground and many new trees will be planted along all of these areas to provide more shade during the hottest days of summer.
Shelah, the children and I had fun when we got together to take photos for the magazine!

It brings a smile to my face to be able to finally answer a question that was posed around forty years ago by Cat Stevens.  The next time I hear, “Where Do The Children Play?” I’ll be able to answer, “At Shelah’s Place in Byron’s own Springbank Gardens!”

The construction for this project will begin near the end of May and the grand opening is scheduled for Saturday, June 18 (rain date Saturday, June 25).  Mayor Matt Brown, Jenny Jones and Shelah Brook will be on sight for the official opening and the time for the ribbon cutting ceremony will soon be listed at london.ca/parks.  Look for the ‘current parks projects’ link.

Jim Kogelheide
May 2015

++++++++++++++++++++++

The opening of this playground happened just a few days ago!  I was working that morning and couldn't attend, so my wife and son took a few copies of the Byron Villager to give to Jenny Jones.

While I was working, it just happened that one of my pick-ups was scheduled at an apartment building right across the street from the playground... at the time of the ribbon-cutting.  So I was able to attend!  Funny how that worked out just perfectly!!!

I created this fun collage to celebrate this event...

  
If you 'click' on this picture, it will appear in a larger format so that you will be able to see it more clearly!






No comments:

Post a Comment