Recently, my oldest graduated from college. An exciting time for anyone, but for our family, it was a true milestone that many had told us 20 years ago might not happen. Why not, you ask? Well, we didn’t know then many of the things we know now. For example, the basis for the Orange Effect Foundation is to get early intervention for as many children as possible because we have learned that early intervention is often the key to assuring a child’s success later in life. That was part of the lesson we learned. By immersing ourselves in ABA, Speech, and Occupational therapy, we had an extra advantage to help get our college graduate to where they are today.
That is not true for everyone. But the more research we do, the smarter we get. That includes things like having activities and places to go for kids with any type of developmental needs. We’ve written before about sensory-friendly movies and sporting events. Such a wonderful opportunity to expose kids to those resources without it being an overly stressful experience for them.
The same is true for playgrounds and play structures. Here in Cleveland, we live close to one such park and we are excited to share the amazing things they are doing thanks to community members who are leading the way to make this happen.
Republished with permission from the Kamms Corners Magazine:
Friends of Impett Park (FOIP) has been hard at work! Through extensive conversations with residents and frequent park users, a common sentiment emerged – dissatisfaction with the current state of the park due to deferred maintenance and outdated amenities. Seeking solutions, Friends of Impett Park engaged with local stakeholders, including Cleveland City Councilman Charles Slife, WPKND, and the Mayor’s Office of Capital Projects to outline their vision for enhancing the park. Following these discussions, a significant development unfolded in the summer of 2023 when Councilman Slife secured $750K in ARPA funds for the creation of a new playground at Impett Park.
FOIP then got to work on engaging residents in the process as they believe community input and participation should drive the design. The goal is to create a unique and multi-faceted design that is on par with playgrounds in neighboring suburbs. The design decisions were also informed by parents of children with disabilities, pediatric occupational therapists, and intervention specialists. This collaborative approach ensured that the playground design aligns with the wants and needs of the community. The envisioned playground will feature two distinct structures catering to different age groups – one designed for 2–12-year-olds and another for 5-12 year-olds. The array of new amenities includes slides, swings, climbing apparatuses, spinning elements, a warp wall, zipline, sensory elements, and nature-inspired play features.
To enhance accessibility and inclusivity for families with disabilities, the existing surface will be replaced with rubberized soft flooring. It is important to note, however, that the allocated funding has limitations. Certain elements, such as splash pads or water features, fitness courses, playing fields, and walking trails, fall outside the scope of this project and cannot be funded through ARPA funds. These plans mark the initial phase of FOIP’s broader vision for long-term improvements across all domains of Impett Park. For example, the existing pavilion will be demolished to make way for the new playground, and FOIP is actively exploring alternative funding opportunities for a new pavilion in collaboration with the City of Cleveland.
In late 2023, FOIP met with key figures, including Director of MOCAP James DeRosa, Parks & Recreation Planning Manager Jay Rauschenbach, and Landscape Architect Jim McKnight. This collaborative effort aimed to secure supplementary state funding grants for renovations beyond the scope of the ARPA playground funding. This includes funding for a new pavilion and safety fencing around the playground. Construction on the playground is scheduled to begin in the Spring and be completed by Late-Summer 2024.
