Metroparks Launches Important Initiative for Giving Tuesday Fundraising Campaign

All funds raised will support the new accessible playground at Kensington Metropark Maple Beach

DETROIT, Mich. – Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving, and the Huron-Clinton Metroparks looks to focus their fundraising efforts for the Kensington Metropark Maple Beach Playground. The play area is utilizing universal design standards to be accessible to visitors of all ages and abilities. Metroparks is partnering with Genisys Credit Union, who will match donations made on Giving Tuesday totaling up to $5,000.

The Kensington Metropark Maple Beach Playground will have solid, rubber safety surfacing, sensory-friendly equipment, transfer-stations onto the playscape, spaces for quiet independent play, dignity landings on slides and more. The space’s layout and design concept have been reviewed and evaluated by multiple organizations through the FAIR Play Coalition, ensuring this project is accessible, and inclusive to all ages and abilities. The FAIR Play Coalition is an advisory group for this project comprised of organizations and individuals that have expertise in working with those of varying abilities or who have varying abilities themselves.

“Designing accessible spaces, particularly a recreational space, is critical to creating a society that works for and values everyone,” said Dessa Cosma, executive director of Detroit Disability Power and a member of the FAIR Play Coalition. “A playground that accommodates children with disabilities does not just allow for those children to enjoy the pleasures of youth with friends and siblings, but teaches the other children and adults present to consider and interact with people different from themselves.”

The space also considers adults and parents with various abilities.

“As a father with an eight-year-old and a baby boy on the way I am looking forward to the day when all playgrounds are accessible for the children who use them and the parents who need to have access to their children,” said Livingston County resident Bryan Wilkerson. “I am a wheelchair user with a spinal cord injury, and I find very few playgrounds work well for me to play with my daughter. It’s important to keep all people in mind when building and I think the Maple Beach Playground is going to do just that.”

Metroparks has a goal of raising $10,000 on Giving Tuesday on December 3 and construction is expected to complete in Fall 2020.

“We are really excited about this project,” said Amy McMillan, Director at the Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority. “The Metroparks are continually finding ways to make all of our parks more accessible and each feature was carefully selected to meet the needs and abilities of all explorers for specific reasons. You can follow our Facebook page to get a preview of these elements and why they were selected as we celebrate giving Tuesday.”

Donations to this effort are 100 percent tax-deductible as the Metroparks Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)3 charitable organization. To donate please visit: https://www.metroparks.com/giving-tuesday/