Requesting support for a wheelchair-accessible playground at Shirley Macey Park – 930 Chamberlin Road in Gibsons
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
- To make a donation, call Sheila at 604-886-0766 (email sheila_k_ba@hotmail.com) or Larissa at 604-886-9887 (email hsiawilcock@hotmail.com) with ‘playground’ in the subject line. The SCRD will issue tax letters for donations of $100 or more. Please make cheques payable to the SCRD.
- Donations can also be made directly to the SCRD at Gibsons & Area Community Centre or Sechelt Aquatic Centre with cash or cheque, or at the SCRD Office, 1975 Field Rd. with cash, cheque, or credit card.
- Look for our coin collection cans (Super Valu, bottle depot, Gibsons Building Supplies, Gibsons and Area Community Center and at the Gibsons Liquor Store during the month of December) and drop in your loose change.
- Call Sheila (604-886-0766) to pick up your Super Valu or Gibsons Marketplace IGA till tape receipts.
- Make a commitment to raise funds. If 40 people, families, businesses, sports teams or charities can commit to raising $1,000 each, this playground will be built (or 80 raise $500 each, or 200 raise $200 each). There are many ways to raise funds—ask co-workers, family, friends, neighbours, off-coast family and friends; request donations in lieu of birthday gifts (thanks to three coastal kids who have already made this sacrifice!); host a car wash, bake sale, yard sale, art sale, lemonade stand, bottle drive, prize raffle, silent auction, Christmas craft sale, car rally, swim-a-thon, toy sale, book sale, calendar sale; clean someone’s house or yard, cash in bottles or—you get the idea! Contact us if you can help.
- Pass word on to others who may be able to donate funds or volunteer.
WHY?
There are no public playgrounds in Grantham’s or Hopkin’s Landings, requiring a growing number of families in the area to drive to playgrounds elsewhere.
Many of our Sunshine Coast playgrounds have a pea-gravel base which is impossible to traverse on wheels. It is important to promote accessibility as we develop our community for the future.
HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?
The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) is providing space, land preparations costs, manpower to assemble the equipment, plus future maintenance. We are turning to the businesses and residents of the Sunshine Coast to help raise the rest of the funds. We gathered support for this initiative in the spring by collecting monetary pledges throughout the community. We are now collecting money from those who made pledges. We are applying for grants, organizing fundraiser events and continuing to request support from our community members. This playground will happen!
Proposed playground design - click here to enlarge image
This design offers challenges for all levels of ability.
Components compliant with American Disabilities Act (ADA) Accessibility Guidelines:
- pour-in-place rubber surfacing
- infinity web with rope climber
- wheelchair transfer station
- wide steel slide
- animal crawl-thru panel
- tap-a-tune reach panel
- rainy days weather station
- bongo panel
- vehicle reach panel
- periscope panel
- ladybug spring rider
- therapeutic rings
- arched chain climber
- 7-station play factory (moving gears, talk tubes...)
Other components: - red quantum slide
- bumblebee spring rider
- telescope panel
HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?
Our budget has increased due to rising fuel costs, supplier costs increase, and changes to the playground design. The playground is now expected to cost $70,500. We have over $56,400 donations thanks to:
- Ronald McDonald House Charities®
- SCRD
- Local residents
- Nickle Family Foundation
- Success By 6® Accessibility Fund
- Wheatberries Bakery
- West Coast Mining Contractors
- Town of Gibsons
- Len Wray’s Transfer
- Gibsons Rotary Club
- The Eric Cardinall Family
- Gibsons Building Supplies
- Marketplace IGA Gibsons
- Subway
- Super Valu
- Smitty’s Oyster House
- Rising Sun Holistic Day Spa
- Patra 2 For 1 Pizza
- Dr. E. Papoutsis
- Elite Travel Ltd.
- Panago Pizza
Thank you to Topshelf Creative for creating and hosting this website.
And thank you to Jan Poynter for progress poster displayed at Shirley Macey Park.
(photo below taken on June 2/08 - Thanks toWayne from AC Electronics for installing the sign at the park for us! Twice!)
Proposed location of playground at Shirley Macey
Thanks to you this playground will happen!