Preston's HOPE: a playground that provides fun for all
At Preston’s HOPE playground, everyone is able to play.
All of the play structures at the 60,000-square-foot park are wheelchair accessible, with ramps connecting every part of the park. Music and hands-on activities are found all over, with Braille instructions for visually challenged visitors.
Other attractions at this extraordinary playground — the only one of its kind in the region — include adjustable-height basketball courts, climbing walls and towers, swings, slides, chess games, music-making activities, a dinosaur bone-digging activity, fun information on nutrition and healthy lifestyle choices, water tables, sand boxes, a fire truck, pretend hair salon and barber shop, clothing store, construction site and gym.
The park was founded by the late Preston Fisher, a young boy with muscular atrophy who wanted a place for himself and other disabled children to play freely without boundaries. Preston passed away in November of 2008, but his dedication to helping other disabled children lives on through his foundation.
Near the bathrooms in the park are automated donation machines for visitors who wish to contribute to Preston’s charitable foundation. The machines accept cash and checks. Credit card donations can be made as well. Instructions to donate via credit card are located on the Preston’s HOPE website as well as on the donation machines.
Kids of all ages and abilities are welcome at Preston’s HOPE playground. The only requirement to play here is the desire to have a whole lot of good, clean fun!
- by LeeAnn Mullen, Cleveland Reporter for HelloMetro
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