Some Things in Life ARE Free!

We met some friends this morning at a park located about 30 minutes from here and it was SO fabulous I just had to blog about it... We actually went there once last year, but Brendan was only 1 and not really playground ready. I knew it was exceptionally nice, but I didn't really see how great it actually was, until today, since he can do so much more now.

It's called Preston's H.O.P.E. Playground and is located at the Jewish Community Center. It is FREE and open to the public from 6AM to 10PM daily! It is SOOOO nice I cannot even put it into words. I mean, imagine a $3 million playground. Yes, I said $3 Million! Here's some info from the website I found when I got home, because I didn't have my camera with me...

Here's an aerial view of the playground... it's huge!

Preston's H.O.P.E., an acronym for Helping Others Play and Enjoy, is the inspiration of Jackie and Ken Fisher and Stacie Halpern. It is named for Jackie and Ken's son Preston, now nine years old, who was born with a genetic disorder, spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), which keeps him confined to a wheelchair. This spectacular 60,000 square foot outdoor play environment encourages children that utilize special equipment, such as crutches or wheelchairs, to play alongside other children with or without disabilities.

Inspired by Boundless Playgrounds, a Connecticut-based nonprofit that promotes and supports playgrounds that are accessible for children with and without disabilities, Preston's H.O.P.E is northern Ohio's first fully accessible playground. It's also the newest and easily the most extensive playground of the 100 or so of its kind, in the country.

Imagination Village, the most recognizable and visible element of Preston's H.O.P.E., offers a wondrous place to explore kid-size houses and stores. The two story structures were donated and built by area builders and represent make-believe homes and businesses, including a schoolhouse and hair salon. The second story of the two-story Village is connected by an easily accessible raised walkway. This walkway is just one of many elements that allow wheelchair bound children to reach and view the world from a much higher perch than they normally could do otherwise.

There are a number of features that make Preston's H.O.P.E. accessible and handicapped-friendly, regardless of disability, for both children and adults. In addition to features designed for children that require a wheelchair, for the vision impaired there are auditory elements and play objects in the playground that are labeled in Braille. Other features of the playground include the Play Theatre, with its own performance stage, and the Sand & Water Area, where children can dig for dinosaur fossils. The play areas with swings, tunnels, and slides, with wheelchair-wide access ramps, are appropriate for children from preschool through school age.

Throughout the play area there are several benches and a covered pavilion for parents and grandparents to take refuge from some of Cleveland's hotter days. Accessible restrooms and drinking fountains have also been incorporated into the design. Additionally, when children get hungry, families can grab a quick bite to eat at the new kosher SUBWAY at the J, which is also open to the community and located in the lobby of the Mandel JCC, just steps away from the playground.

The JCC will maintain Preston's H.O.P.E. through an endowment overseen by the Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland in conjunction with the JCC and The Preston Fund for SMA Research.

And for the first time coming home from a playground, we have NO new cuts or bruises -- due to the fact that most of the play area is padded with that outdoor foam stuff! WONDERFUL! I'm sure we'll fall down later on the driveway to add to the list of wipeouts that STILL happen very frequently. I'm starting to wonder if he will 1) ever stop running, and just walk, or 2) watch where he's going... I'm afraid I'm going to be accused of child abuse when I take him in for his 2 year check up! He has cuts and bruises up and down his legs, feet, elbows, and even a cut in his butt crack! He fell on the edge of someone's sandbox the other day and wasn't wearing a diaper, because I was in the process of trying to change him out of his swimsuit so we could leave! ONLY this kid! LOL!