EDITORIAL An all-inclusive effort: Plans for special-needs park for kids deserve community support Read more: The Mountain Press - EDITORIAL An all inclusive effort Plans for special needs park for kids deserve community support

It’s called Project Sevier, and it deserves recognition, support and praise from this community for its intended purpose. A group from 2011 class of Leadership Tomorrow is trying to raise money to construct a special-needs playground for children, an all-inclusive park where the disabled or handicapped can go and play among equipment designed just for them.

Lisa Bremer, Cecil Page II and Darren Bailey were grouped during their Leadership Tomorrow experience and took on the playground as their special community project. They had noticed disabled children watching while other kids played at area parks, and it bothered them. Rather than just complain and express concern, they took it on themselves to do something.

They were given a tract of land next to LeConte Medical Center. They created a nonprofit organization. And now they are raising the money. That last part is a daunting challenge. The park they need to build will cost around $100,000. It has to be have specially made equipment, be wheelchair-accessible, and include a rubber floor that accommodates wheelchairs and active children.

The all-inclusive park, as they are calling it, would be a wonderful addition to Sevier County. It will give all kids, whether handicapped or able, a chance to play and have a good time. It’s hard to know how many special-needs kids would welcome the park, but it has to be hundreds. It’s really not fair that more public parks here do not accommodate such children.

A groundbreaking for the park is scheduled for 11 a.m. Nov. 2 at the corner of Middle Creek and Millwood roads in Sevierville. In the meantime, if you feel motivated to help, contact Bremer at 368-5455 or email to projectsevier@gmail.com. You can get even more information about the park on the Project Sevier blog at http://projectsevier.blogspot.com and on the group’s Facebook page.

Printed in the Mountain Press on October 21, 2011