Photo Credit: © Craig Harrold Photography
With fanfare reserved for a visit from the circus, various magicians, jugglers, clowns, and service animals celebrated the grand opening of Play for All Abilities Park, which opened in Round Rock, Texas, on March 3 after 5 years of stops and starts.
It all began in 2006 when residents Kenneth and Dennis Seymore asked city officials to consider applying for a Boundless Playground outdoor grant. Kenneth was attempting to provide more recreational opportunities for his son Dennis, who is wheelchair-bound due to a debilitating muscle disease. Fortunately, as it worked out, the city was not awarded the grant. If it had been awarded, the community would have missed out on an opportunity to build the park together.
Two years later, Marge Tripp and the Sunrise Rotary organization asked about installing an adaptive swing for children with autism. City officials were once again reminded of the need for recreational opportunities for children of all abilities, and it was verified again during the parks and recreation master-planning process.