Parent's quest for all-inclusive park in Elk Grove now reality

The Elk Grove Park District Saturday dedicated a new all-inclusive playground at the Al Hattendorf Center, 225 E. Elk Grove Blvd.

The project grew ouf of a 2015 appearance before the park board by Elk Grove Village resident Sherri Cappello.

"I suggested in front of the park board that we need an all-inclusive park for kids with special needs," she said Saturday. "I have a son with special needs. The park board voted for it, and thanks to them we now have a park."

Before the vote, the district researched the idea and found that more than 500 village residents with varying abilities access district programs through the Northwest Special Recreation Association, indicting the need.

The existing playground at the park had a picnic shelter, a story garden, a trike track, sensory garden and grass play areas. Beginning in August, workers added a spinning ring swing, overhead climber, group seesaw, a swinging bench and a hand cycling station for aerobic exercise. The new area is protected with an accessible, poured in place rubber surface. The cost of the improvements was just under $100,000.

Nicole Scheflow said her son Ford, 4, and daughter were "very excited about the new park, especially one that includes all the different kids and their needs. Ford has been seeing them build the park over the last couple of months, and he's been really excited to go try it out."