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Kiwanis Club Raising Funds for Inclusive Playground

Steph Whiteside/WSIU
Kiwanis Club announces inclusive playground project.

The Carbondale Kiwanis Club announced efforts to create an inclusive playground in Carbondale on Wednesday.

The group committed $20,000 to the project, which will install accessible equipment at Turley Park. Carbondale Township is also contributing funds, while the Kiwanis club is seeking help from the community to raise the rest of the money needed for the project.

"We feel like this is something important for our community, it's important for our kids in the community, and while we are taking the lead in getting it started, we need help to get it to the finish line," said Kiwanis Secretary Mike Haake. 

The new playground will include replacing the woodchip ground cover with a smoother surface to help kids who have difficulty with mobility, ramps to access equipment, high-backed swings for stability, and sensory panels that children can interact with.

Stephanie Brown, with the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities, said it's important to create a place that all children can use, especially when so many community and family events happen at city parks.

"Inclusion teaches our children that everyone, regardless of ability, can play together," she said.

Total costs for the project are estimated at $120,000 and Haake says they hope to break ground on phase one next spring. Anyone intersted in donating can email allkidsplay618@gmail.com or visit the project website.

The playground equipment currently installed at Turley Park will be repurposed for use at other facilities in Carbondale.

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