Community: City of Livonia Parks and Recreation Department
Population: 10,000+
The Rotary Park Playground Community Build Project was more than just replacing a playground at an existing park. It was a unique effort that brought together businesses, community leaders, high school students, and many others to both fund and build the first universally accessible playground in the City of Livonia. The project brought multiple generations and socioeconomic backgrounds together, creating a true sense of community and stewardship. Together they worked to build a space for all ages and abilities to come together in a barrier-free environment.
Replicability:
The way that this project is easy to replicate, is the community build aspect.
Rotary Park is one of the largest and most used parks in Livonia. It was a great location to add a new playground for all abilities to enjoy. Bringing multiple organizations together, from civic organizations to hospitals, funding was secured. The Rotary Clubs raised $50,000 and together with the Department of Parks and Recreation we looked for grant opportunities.
The playground was able to become larger and offer more features as it became a community build project. Volunteers from civic organizations and corporations got involved, including the Rotary Club Livonia, Livonia A.M. Rotary Club, City of Livonia, Healthy Livonia, St. Mary Mercy Livonia, TCF, Livonia Public Schools, Stevenson High School students, Architecture Hardware and Supply and Company, U.S. Army Recruiting Office Livonia North and many helpful Livonia residents.Volunteers for the community build project were diverse. Everyone was excited to assist in bringing a new place to play to Rotary Park. We were able to bring local business and government leaders together with high school sports teams. It was a rewarding experience for all involved.
Creativity and Originality:
Various aspects of this project were creative and original, beginning with securing funding.
The project originated from the Rotary Club of Livonia. Although the club had been fundraising for the project, the need for an accessible play structure was evident and the Parks & Recreation Department wanted to assist in bringing the project to fruition. The Rotary Clubs had raised $50,000 and, together with the Department of Parks and Recreation, they sought out grant opportunities.
As additional organizations committed funding to the project, the budget and scope of the project grew. A new collaboration called Healthy Livonia committed another $100,000 to the project. Healthy Livonia was spearheaded by St. Mary Mercy Livonia with a goal to improve the health of the local community. This organization is made up of representatives from St. Mary Mercy Livonia, Livonia Parks & Recreation, Livonia Public Schools, Chamber of Commerce, and City of Livonia. The new matching funds allowed us to receive a grant through State Representative Laura Cox and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) from the State of Michigan for $300,000.
The community build aspect for a project of this scope was a bold undertaking. The ability to recruit volunteers from such a broad base was crucial to the success of the project. It was great to see CEO’s and community leaders working together with the high school sports teams to bring a new playground to the community they all call home.
Community Impact:
Since the grand opening of the playground, there has been an increase in park usage, both by residents and the surrounding community. There has also been a noticeable difference in the ways in which the young people interact with one another. The playground accessibility allows all ages and abilities the opportunity to play together and overcome barriers.
The playground, which is the first of its kind in the area, features poured-in-place surfacing to increase accessibility, an oodle swing, shaped like a disk to allow more than one user and the ability to access it from any angle, a friendship swing, which allows face to face interaction among all ages, a shaded ground level sensory wall, an omni spin accessible merry-go-round, and a global motion large rotating inclusive play sphere. Additional climbers, slides, and swings round out the fun.
