Gateway to Laughter, an inclusive playground, set to open in Aurora
The Gateway to Laughter Team recently announced a new inclusive playground will open Sunday, Aug. 21, at John Gates Elementary School, 800 Seventh Ave. in Aurora. A ribbon cutting ceremony is planned for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visit www.facebook.com/Gateway2Laughter.
Gateway to Laugher is a community project, initiated by Aimee Ford, a recipient of Benedictine University's Arthur J. Schmidt's Scholarship for Future Leaders. Under Ford's guidance, a Benedictine support committee was formed to help manage the playground project. Students sought to create a place of joy and laughter that would allow children with disabilities the opportunity to play right alongside their peers. The team recognized it would require a considerable amount of funding from donations and sponsors to bring this idea to fruition and successfully raised more than $20,000 toward the project.
The Gateway to Laughter team included Benedictine University staff and students, Gates Elementary staff members and PTO, East Aurora Unit District 131 representatives, nonprofit Rebuilding Together Aurora, two local occupational therapists, Chad Ford's Snow Removal & Concrete, a city of Aurora official, and Playworld, a leading commercial playground equipment manufacturer committed to saving outdoor unstructured play.
"Our project had a slow start, but we learned so much throughout the entire process," Ford said. "The faculty of Benedictine University helped fuel our passion with encouragement and mentorship throughout the project. We are humbly grateful for all the members of the surrounding communities who came together to support the Gateway to Laughter playground."
The inclusive playground features fully accessible equipment that encourages play for all. The space also is home to a permanent butterfly garden, outdoor learning lab, multisensory play stations and a Buddy Bench, designed to eliminate loneliness and foster friendship on the playground. The school's blacktop was also resurfaced to complete murals and hop scotch areas. This project, inspired by Benedictine's AJS Scholarship, has helped bring education beyond the classroom.
The Gateway to Laughter team successfully achieved what they sought out to accomplish - installing a safe and inclusive playground for families with children of all ages and abilities. The Gates School will continue fundraising so that an inclusive, unitary surfacing can be added at a future date, replacing the current wood-fiber surfacing.
The playground's successful equipment selection and layout was due in part to assistance received from Playworld representatives Scott Ritter, inside sales, and Kevin Cook, chief sales officer, and the entire design team who completely understand designing for inclusion.
"Their ability to think outside the box allowed for the careful selection of all pieces of playground equipment being installed," Ford said.
The Gateway to Laughter playground invites people of all ages and abilities to come together to create a place of joy and laughter.
To learn more, visit www.facebook.com/Gateway2Laughter/.