Wheaton Kiwanis pitching $1.9M 'sensory' playground
As a developmental therapist, Cindy Keck understands what noisy playgrounds can do to children with certain sensory disabilities. The experience can be a nightmare for both the child and their caretaker.
As a member of the Kiwanis Club of Wheaton, she has seen firsthand how the organization helps the community. Ten years ago, the club helped build Safety City at Toohey Park.
So as the 60th anniversary of the Kiwanis Club approached, she introduced the idea of a sensory playground as a way of serving the community and raising awareness of the organization.
“It is a place where they won't be singled out or noticed for their special needs,” she said. “It will be a wonderful park and should be especially welcoming for people easily over- or under-stimulated.”
Keck quickly received support from several agencies after bringing it up at a Kiwanis meeting in spring 2010 and has now started her fundraising for the estimated $1.9 million project. For donation information visit dupagesensoryplay.org.
Keck said the project could be built in phases that would depend on the amount of money raised. She said the goal is to pay for it entirely through donations and grants.
The final product will include handicapped-accessible play areas, interactive musical instrument areas, a tree house and a garden area. The garden area will have raised flower beds with strongly scented plants for people in wheelchairs.
Additionally, the 40-acre site, tentatively planned for a parcel leased by Wheaton Park District from the DuPage County Forest Preserve District on the northeast corner of Lucent Lane and Naperville Road, will include a wheelchair-friendly baseball field modeled after a similar one in Roselle. The tentative plan has initial site work scheduled for next year.
Wheaton Park District board President Ray Morrill, who was president of the Kiwanis Club at the time Keck brought up the playground idea, said the project has been pitched to area organizations with a possible interest.
He stressed the playground would be open to anyone, although it would be built with children with disabilities in mind.
Keck said playgrounds not tailored to such children pose a problem for their families. For example, if a child is especially sensitive to stimulation, a standard playground would be a nightmare because of the other children playing.
In addition, if they are less sensitive to stimulation, they need an outlet where they can run around and expend energy without interfering with other children.
Sandy Gbur, the new executive director of the Western DuPage Special Recreation Association, said her agency supported the idea immediately. She said families of children with disabilities can use such a playground in the area.
“It's just an easy one to say, ‘yes' to,” she said. “When I see our families who have children with deficits like autism or visual impairment, they are struggling on their own right now to make their children have a better life. Just creating this environment for them is really going to allow them to feel good.”