Universal playground idea for Queens needs votes

The Queens Universally Designed Play park committee is in the running for the Aviva Community Fund Big Idea contest, and is in need of votes from the community.

The group is looking to create a fully accessible park, that caters to the full range of ages and abilities.

Debbie Wamboldt, a member of the fundraising team, says the project incorporates ramps instead of stairs, picture communication and braille boards for the hard of hearing and hard of sight, and will be fully fenced in.

It’s a project that is important to Wamboldt’s family as well. Her son is one of the many children in the community with Autism, and existing playgrounds are not well suited for those on the Autism spectrum.

Part of design includes a splash pad, which Wamboldt says by putting it in the park it will be accessible to all members of the community.

The Region of Queens has donated the land for the proposed park, next to Queens Place Emera Centre and the skatepark.

The proposed budget for the park is around $500,000, with fundraising projects in the planning stages

The Queens Universally Designed Play park committee is in the running for the Aviva Community Fund Big Idea contest, and is in need of votes from the community.

The contest hands out $100,000 to the idea with the most votes, and Wambold is encouraging the community to register and vote at avivacommunityfund.org to help boost their numbers.

Voting runs until Oct. 4.