The story is that a disabled teenager name Morgan told her dad that she wanted a special park where kids like her can play and have fun. Her daddy took that to heart...hence creating this amazing playground. The park is ran predominently by volunteers. Today a group of young airforce cadettes proudly assisted its guests. Awe is an understatement of how I felt. To see the young children and adults wheel chair bound being able to explore their senses and having fun on rides tailored just for them....words can't describe how happy they looked to be here. As was I...this experience truly touched my heart and made me grateful for everything that I have in my life.
One of the very first things you see when you enter the park is this amazing playground with ramps for wheel chairs and rides designed for the senses verus the amuzement. For example, Aleena's favorite thing to do at this park was the roller slide. She went on the slide over and over and over until finally I had to distract her with other fun things to do.
Aleena enjoyed swinging on the swings. She intently watched the people in their wheel chairs swinging too. This was just an amazing sight. Swings designed for wheel chairs to clamp on to, so that inidividuals who are wheel chair bound can enjoy the simple joys that most kids take advantage of...swinging.
This little girl was so touching. She was maybe 5 years old and controlled her wheel chair with a touch pad. Her mom took her out of her chair and put her in this specially designed swing that is more like a bucket to rest in. The swing went back and forth, but also went side to side and in circles. I'm sure this was quite an experience for this little girl and her family.
More fun sensory stuf..music making! Aleena enjoyed this.
The park had amazing butterfly seats. When you sit in the middle, it gives the appearance that you have wings... beautiful.
We all took a train ride around the park.Hi Chrissy, Kaysen, and Kaidon!
Here's the Lily and Lucas..so cute!
View of the park from the train.
Afterwards, Aleena enjoyed watching the ducks
She found another park to play with where she practiced her gymnastics. This may be her forte..she has tremenous upper body strength!
We entered the wharf...
She played with the remote control pirate ships
She especially loved playing with the water cannons with Kaysen
She decided that she wanted to go fishing with Kaidon
Look at that...she caught a fish!
After that, we went to snack and we were soon accompanied by ducks.
We toured the park a little more and found this amazing super hero picture board..notice how all of the characters have a disability. But they are all superhero's nonetheless! Love it!
When you are in sensory overload and just need a tranquil place to relax...go to the Sanctuary Garden. This area had soothing music and benches where you can sit, relax, and watch the water and ducks swimming. It was absolutely beautiful and the statues were precious.
We enjoyed a quick snack since it was lunch time.
After the kids got a little bit more energy, we headed to the carousel. Although I shouldn't be surprised, my amazing company USAA donated the carousel. The carousel itself is equipped with regular horses and animals that go up and down, but also with benches for people to sit on. Best yet, there were some boxes that a person in a wheel chair could pull in and snap the wheels in. The entire platform not only went in a circle, but also up and down like the horses so that the person go the full effect of the carousel. I shouldn't have been surprised..but I was...amazing!
It was time for us to leave since Aleena was really tired and I had dinner reservations. We barely got through half of the park. We will be back again. I truly enjoyed every moment of this experience.
When one enters and exits that park you are greated with this amazing statue..it's the statue of Hope. It speaks for itself.
Thanks again Mattison and Wise family for sharing this special place with us.
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