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Independence, MO —
Securing $25,000 for a special needs-accessible park in Independence served as a nationwide effort for Daniel Oakes’ family.
Because of the family’s efforts, more than 400 votes from those living in Alaska, Florida, California, Texas, Ohio, Kansas and Michigan were cast through Facebook in the State Farm Insurance company’s Cause An Effect competition from April 27 through May 17.
On Friday, 10-year-old Daniel Oakes and 13-year-old Joshua Gragg (son of District 1 Council Member Marcie Gragg, whose represented area includes the future playground), along with city officials, officially accepted a $25,000 grant for “Play With No Boundaries” at McCoy Park. The project was one of the top 40 among the 100 finalists to secure enough votes.
Daniel, who has cerebral palsy and uses a walker, said he would like the new playground to include special slides with ramps instead of ladders so the common piece of playground equipment is more accessible for special-needs children. In response to whether he is able to play on the existing equipment at McCoy Park, Daniel replied: “Some of it.”
“He’s got to stay active to keep his muscles built up,” Daniel’s father, Danny Oakes, said of the importance for his son to play outside.
The playground is estimated to cost about $300,000 and was approved as part of the parks master plan in 2011. The 5,100-square-foot playground would feature specially engineered swings, slides and a jungle gym, and almost all of the features would be handicapped accessible.
From here, an agreement will go before the City Council to approve the involvement of the nonprofit organization Unlimited Play in designing and coordinating the fundraising efforts for the playground. Several neighborhood meetings also will take place to brainstorm ideas for the playground, which has no projected date for completion at this time.
Chad Mitchell, an agent with State Farm on Noland Road, had approached Independence Parks and Recreation after hearing about the Cause An Effect grant competition. Mitchell said he wanted to propose a project that would benefit all of Eastern Jackson County.
“It was a perfect fit because not only is Independence going to benefit off of this but also other surrounding communities,” Mitchell said. “I’m just excited to be a part of it. I appreciate State Farm coming forward with the effort, but I’m excited to be a part of something like this in the community. It’s going to be able to bring people together and bring the community together.”
In May, the Ivanhoe neighborhood of Kansas City dedicated a new playground in Jim Nutter Park that also includes equipment appropriate for those children with disabilities. Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City also has a special needs-accessible playground, but none currently exist in Eastern Jackson County.
“It’ll finally give me the chance to have the ability to play on a playground,” Daniel Oakes said. “(I’ll play on it) until the day I die. It means a lot to me. I’ll bring my sons here.”
Securing $25,000 for a special needs-accessible park in Independence served as a nationwide effort for Daniel Oakes’ family.
Because of the family’s efforts, more than 400 votes from those living in Alaska, Florida, California, Texas, Ohio, Kansas and Michigan were cast through Facebook in the State Farm Insurance company’s Cause An Effect competition from April 27 through May 17.
On Friday, 10-year-old Daniel Oakes and 13-year-old Joshua Gragg (son of District 1 Council Member Marcie Gragg, whose represented area includes the future playground), along with city officials, officially accepted a $25,000 grant for “Play With No Boundaries” at McCoy Park. The project was one of the top 40 among the 100 finalists to secure enough votes.
Daniel, who has cerebral palsy and uses a walker, said he would like the new playground to include special slides with ramps instead of ladders so the common piece of playground equipment is more accessible for special-needs children. In response to whether he is able to play on the existing equipment at McCoy Park, Daniel replied: “Some of it.”
“He’s got to stay active to keep his muscles built up,” Daniel’s father, Danny Oakes, said of the importance for his son to play outside.
The playground is estimated to cost about $300,000 and was approved as part of the parks master plan in 2011. The 5,100-square-foot playground would feature specially engineered swings, slides and a jungle gym, and almost all of the features would be handicapped accessible.
From here, an agreement will go before the City Council to approve the involvement of the nonprofit organization Unlimited Play in designing and coordinating the fundraising efforts for the playground. Several neighborhood meetings also will take place to brainstorm ideas for the playground, which has no projected date for completion at this time.
Chad Mitchell, an agent with State Farm on Noland Road, had approached Independence Parks and Recreation after hearing about the Cause An Effect grant competition. Mitchell said he wanted to propose a project that would benefit all of Eastern Jackson County.
“It was a perfect fit because not only is Independence going to benefit off of this but also other surrounding communities,” Mitchell said. “I’m just excited to be a part of it. I appreciate State Farm coming forward with the effort, but I’m excited to be a part of something like this in the community. It’s going to be able to bring people together and bring the community together.”
In May, the Ivanhoe neighborhood of Kansas City dedicated a new playground in Jim Nutter Park that also includes equipment appropriate for those children with disabilities. Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City also has a special needs-accessible playground, but none currently exist in Eastern Jackson County.
“It’ll finally give me the chance to have the ability to play on a playground,” Daniel Oakes said. “(I’ll play on it) until the day I die. It means a lot to me. I’ll bring my sons here.”
