The concrete pads are in and the Kate’s Kause charity playground is starting to take shape. The $300,000, community-funded accessible playground is well under construction in Elmira’s Gibson Park. The new playground is located east of the creek that flows through the First Street park.
Today (Saturday) Kate’s Kause is hosting a community build. With the help from volunteer labourers the installation cost should be kept to a minimum. The build also offers the volunteers an opportunity to participate in a community event creating the accessible playground in Elmira.
Kelly Meissner and her husband Jeremy started Kate’s Kause in October 2010 to raise funds to build a playground that children with special needs, like their daughter, Kate, could use to help them develop through play and interaction with other children.
Kate was diagnosed with Angelman Syndrome two years ago. People with AS typically have little or no verbal skills, possible seizures and sleep disorders, and poor gross and fine motor skills.
It only took a year and a half of fundraising for the Meissners to raise more than $265,000 for the project.
For the success of the community build, Kate’s Kause is relying on volunteers to provide the much needed installation labour.
“We are looking for about 60 volunteers to come out for the day,” said Bev Baechler of Woolwich Township’s recreation department.
During the build volunteers will be divided into four subsections: sand play, swing area, junior play and senior play. Each subsection will have teams consisting of three or four volunteers. Each team will be tasked with responsibilities to completed throughout the day to help with the installation of the playground.
All teams will be given the appropriate tools required to complete each task. On completion of their task, the area supervisor will ensure that the work has been done accurately before assigning the team their next task assignment. The majority of the work should be completed on Saturday leaving Sunday for a final site inspection. The playground construction is set to be complete by July 1. coinciding with the Canada Day long weekend.
