On Feb. 21 the Recreation Commission appointed a group of volunteers to be the All Children's Playground Select Committee, to enable them to seek donations to construct a very special playground. The All Children's Playground will be totally or mostly accessible to special needs children, but will also be available to non-challenged kids.

This is a special and significant endeavor, for several reasons.

First, the way in which it all came about. Colleen Sugar, a Peachtree City resident, wrote a letter to me pointing out that the city, and indeed the entire county, has a deficit in special needs accessible playgrounds. But she was not simply writing to make a complaint and demand that somebody do something about it. She wrote to make a note of a discrepancy, and in the same breath offered to be part of the solution by volunteering her time and talent. She followed through on the offer by accepting the commission's appointment as chairman of the steering committee.

Next, this playground is going to be a unique and special community asset. Over the past two years, as the recreation staff and commission updated the 1993 Master Recreation Plan, playgrounds emerged as a need to be addressed. Money has been budgeted beginning in fiscal year 2002 to construct or refurbish playgrounds, but nothing on the scale of what is planned for the All Children's. This is being planned as a showpiece, constructed of contemporary materials, placed in a landscaped, serene setting at Luther Glass Park. It will be a facility in which contributors, and all citizens, can take great pride.

Another special aspect of this effort is that the committee will be using the Recreation Commission's new Sponsorship Program, which provides several levels from which contributors can choose. The program ensures that anyone from individuals to large corporations can make a recognized contribution and be part of the effort.

Last, this is special because it is for kids. Anyone who loves kids and has watched them play together can appreciate the special feeling that goes with being involved in a project that will do so much good. It also gives special needs kids and non-challenged kids an opportunity to play together and get a glimpse into each other's worlds. Everyone involved will be a winner; the kids and their families, the contributors, and the entire community.

The six-member committee has scheduled its first organizational meeting for Feb. 29 at 6:30 p.m. in the Recreation Administration conference room. From there they will begin planning their approach. Money is already coming in and they haven't even gotten started yet: $500 was received from a lady in Wisconsin who heard about the effort through a friend.

Anyone interested in either assisting the committee or contributing can call the Recreation Department at 770-631-2542 and their name and phone number will be forwarded to the committee chair.

Randy Gaddo
Director of Leisure Services
Peachtree City

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