SUBMITTED
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The new community “Playground for Everyone” on the Meadows school grounds.
A dedicated committee, an army of volunteers, and a host of generous sponsors have built a fully accessible community playground at Meadows School.
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Surrounded by a group of happy children, Meadows committee members (L-R) Lorie Stutsky, Amy Grift, Karleigh Harvey-Zenk and Meredith Walker cut the ribbon on the new community “Playground for Everyone” on the school grounds. (SUBMITTED)
Tools in hand, the ‘worker bees’ erected the structure over three long days on a weekend in the middle of June.
In Brandon there are few playgrounds that are truly accessible, meaning no matter what ability, activities are available to keep all children active and engaged on and around the structure.
The "Playground for Everyone" committee — Meredith Walker, Lorie Stutsky, Karleigh Harvey-Zenk and Amy Grift — worked with a Canadian-owned company, Playgrounds R Us and its parent company, Landscaped Structures, to create this one-of-a-kind playground for their school and community.
They selected an Engineered Wood Fibre Surfacing as the surface material. Once the product is settled, it forms a "knitted" compact layer that will support a variety of mobility devices.
This allows all community members young and old to access the structure. In addition, it is a soft surface, providing safety and peace of mind for parents, grandparents, and educators.
A project like this does not happen overnight, and the committee has a number of organizations and people they would like to thank:
Platinum Sponsors: The Brandon School Division, The City of Brandon, The Keg Steakhouse & Bar, Manitoba Community Services Council, Community Places and Meadows Parent Council.
Gold Sponsors: Brandon Area Community Foundation, Cancade Company Limited, The Cerebral Palsy Association of Manitoba, Jacobson & Greiner and Meadows School staff.
There were also other businesses and individuals as depicted on the donor board on site.
The committee would also like to thank the volunteers who embarked on the community build weekend and the many who gave of their time to help or attend various fundraisers throughout this past year.
As the family legacy board on site depicts, this project is a legacy of which the entire school and community can all be proud.
So be sure to check out this one-of-a-kind structure at Meadows School this summer!
» Submitted
Republished from the Brandon Sun print edition July 12, 2012
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