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Mattie McCullough Elementary breaking barriers with Access for All playscape

Jun 29, 2017 | 5:00 AM

Red Deer will soon be home to the largest barrier-free playground in Central Alberta.

Slated for completion in the Fall of 2018, construction on the Access for All project will begin August 11 and 12 of this year at Mattie McCullough Elementary School (MMES) and will feature playground equipment designed for inclusivity.

Jagger Anderson, 9, attends MMES and is one of the students who will greatly benefit from the project. His mom, Sharlee Anderson, said if there was one word for this project and what it means to Jagger, it’s “freedom.”

“There’re not a whole lot of things Jagger can do with his friends or siblings that there’s not another person or adult involved. To give him his freedom and let him be a kid, that’ll mean a lot for our family,” said Sharlee.

The project is supported by the partnership between MMES, The Rotary Clubs in Red Deer, the Red Deer Rotaract Club and the City of Red Deer.

Sharlee said the students, Jagger’s friends, have been nothing short of amazing in wanting play equipment that everyone can use. She said they just love Jagger for who he is.

Kim Kirkwood, Vice Principal at Mattie McCullough said by the end of the first week of school students had brought forward the issue of their friends not being able to play on the playground.

A recent fundraising event was hosted at the future site of the Access for All playground. The event was carnival themed and featured games, a slip-n-slide, a dunk tank and more. The event successfully raised $6,200 for the project.

Kirkwood said every event that has been hosted to fundraise for the playground has had an incredible turnout and support.

“We know that the community is backing us for sure,” she said.

The fundraising efforts to date have provided enough funds for phase one of the playground which includes some equipment, the park surfacing and the pathways from both the parking lot and the school.

The approximately 12,000 square foot barrier-free playground will be what Kirkwood calls a “destination playground” bringing people to Red Deer from all around Central Alberta.

Phone calls have now come in from other cities and towns asking how the committee has succeeded and what they are doing now. Kirkwood said it is encouraging to hear other areas wanting barrier-free playgrounds to ensure that every child and family has a place to play.

Sharlee said the playground is a huge step forward for Jagger and the community.

“I’m just so proud of everybody and the community and blown away by the support that Red Deer Public has offered and how the teachers have run with it. The children; I just can’t thank those children enough for just being who they are,” said Sharlee.

The public is welcome to volunteer for the building of the playground on August 11 and 12. To do so, send an email to mmes@rdpsd.ab.ca

Access for All playground will officially open September 9 with a ribbon cutting ceremony. The public is invited to attend this event as well. 

Check out this wonderful video released this past weekend profiling the Access for All project…