DAPHNE – Daphne’s new playground intended to include participants with physical and mental disabilities should be open within two months, program supporters said.
Construction began recently on Project Sandbox, a joint effort by the Daphne-Spanish Fort Kiwanis Club, Exceptional Foundation and city of Daphne. Supporters held a ceremony Monday, June 21, to kick off the start of the project at the playground site at the Daphne Sports Complex on Park Drive.
Project organizer Ray Moore said the park is intended for everyone.
“It’s truly an inclusive park, which means, whatever challenges your child has, or has no challenges, or has challenges, they can be out here,” Moore said. “Whether it’s physical, sensory, whatever, they can enjoy this playground.”
Moore said that while children with disabilities can have access to many playgrounds under the Americans with Disabilities Act, this facility is designed specifically for their needs and situation.
“There are other parks in the city which are ADA, they have to be, but this one is truly an inclusive park,” Moore said. “It’s sensory, physical, mental issues out here. They can come enjoy themselves out here.”
Moore said supporters have been working and fundraising for about four years to get the project started.
“I was talking to somebody a little while ago and they said they’ve come by this area for so many years and it’s been a parking lot, nothing here and now, all of the sudden, it is here,” Moore said. “This is fantastic.”
Mayor Robin LeJeune said much of the fundraising took place during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“When they explained it too us that it’s a platform for kids from all different abilities to be able to play together, man, my heart said ‘let’s go. What do we have to do?’ With the help of the council, we were able to put $100,000 of seed money up and Ray said we’re going to work on raising money and three years later, a couple of years later, COVID hit and what an amazing job for the Kiwanis to be able to raise over $50,000 during a pandemic, but that tells you what this community wants in this area and what it needs,” LeJeune said.
LeJeune said city officials plan other activities at the site including a splash pad to be constructed next to the Project Sandbox playground.
The total cost of the playground is about $350,000. Moore said the initial goal had been $60,000, but supporters realized a better park was needed and worked to raise the extra money to meet the need for a facility for everyone.
“We’ve got to do this for the community,” Moore said. “It’s not a Kiwanis park. It’s not an Exceptional Foundation park. It’s not a city park, even though the city has done tremendous for us. This is a community park. It’s for everybody. Whatever the ability of your child, young adult, whatever, they can be out here. That’s the beauty of this place.”
