All-Abilities Playground at O’Fallon Community Park is about to open. Here are the details
The All-Abilities Playground will be ready for youngsters to climb, swing, slide and play as soon as the grand opening takes place on Monday, Oct. 30 at 4:30 p.m. in the O’Fallon Community Park.
The ADA-accessible playground is on the north side of the park, just west of the Long Cabin, at 401 E. Fifth Street. It replaces the aging playground and allows people of all abilities and development stages to play together.
The playground’s name will also be revealed then, said Nick Schmidt, the Special Olympics coordinator for the O’Fallon Police Department.
The Fraternal Order of the Police Lodge #198 gave $25,000 to secure naming rights. Police officers have been heavily involved in supporting the Special Olympics over the years and are among the top fundraising departments in the state for the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics.
“We hope that children from the area will learn that those who may not look, walk, or speak like them can still laugh and have fun like them when given the opportunity,” Schmidt said. “Everyone will have an opportunity to play together and socialize.”
Police officer Mike Shewmaker said the Special Olympics is one of the ways the officers get out and be part of the community, and they have enjoyed engaging with the athletes and their families.
“There is a lot to do for kids on that playground,” said Andrew Dallner, director of the O’Fallon Parks and Recreation Department.
“We couldn’t be more pleased with the support from the O’Fallon community. So many people stepped up to either help build or financially support the playground. Makes me so proud to be part of the O’Fallon community,” he said.
Mayor Herb Roach thanked the community for its support, the donors, service organizations, and sponsors who helped make it happen, and volunteers who contributed their time to help build it.
“An inclusive playground removes barriers between kids, despite any differences, and gives them areas that will allow them to be active, laugh and play, and enjoy some outside activities,” Roach said.
Construction began in the spring and then in late summer, about 30 volunteers helped with some of the final installation.
“It has gone really well,” Dallner said.
Dallner said playgrounds where children with special needs can play along with others has been a growing movement, for it removes barriers for kids who haven’t been able to enjoy those outside activities.
“They can be active and play in a welcoming environment, which is important for social connections,” Dallner said.
But it’s not an easy plan to put into place because of the cost. Budgeted at $1 million, money was used from the Build O’Fallon Trust Fund, and donations were accepted.
Dallner said the playground and pool improvements were the two top priority rankings in the Build O’Fallon Trust Fund surveys.
The city provided opportunities to have sponsors donate to make names permanently part of the project.
A part of the Parks Master Plan, the Community Park is undergoing significant upgrades, in addition to the new playground, with trails and bike paths, a new swimming pool, event space, and new community center.
Recently, the police department raised $30,000 for the Torch Run Fund in a “Let’s Go to Jail” fundraiser.
“Twenty-five people really came through,” Schmidt said.
The O’Fallon athletes compete in Illinois Special Olympics Region J, which provides programming for people in Bond, Calhoun, Clinton, Fayette, Jersey, Macoupin, Madison, Monroe, Montgomery, St. Clair, and Washington counties. They include 1,170 athletes of the state’s 23, 316 total.
For more information on the playground, visit https://ofallonparksandrec.com/
