LAKE GENEVA — The Never Say Never Playland project continues to move towards its fundraising goal to build a fully accessible playground in Lake Geneva for children with disabilities.
The nonprofit has raised roughly $220,000 toward its $520,000 goal heading into Sunday’s fundraiser as part of the Lake Geneva Balloon Company‘s grand opening of its new Balloonport.
The city of Lake Geneva has provided a 13,000 square-foot space in Veterans Park and has committed $15,000 to the project that will offer an innovative, safe, accessible and fun experience for kids (and adults) of all ages and mobility levels.
Never Say Never will be a 13,000 sq ft, fully inclusive playground, compliant with the American Disabilities Act.
The playground will have a woodland theme with accessible components like: swings with high backs and safety belts, a wheelchair friendly merry-go-round, wheelchair swing, ramps instead of stairs, an accessible zip line and the entire playground will have a poured-in-place rubber foundation, according to organizers.
The unique playground is the dream and passion of Dusti Grenus and an army of like minded friends behind her.
Grenus’s only daughter, 21-year-old Kameron, was born with Cerebral Palsy, and has limited mobility and communication ability.
For all of these years, Grenus has searched for opportunities to give Kam the life of a “normal” kid, and has pursued tireless research and campaigning to develop Never Say Never, inc.
Walworth County is one of only two counties in the state of Wisconsin with a special needs school, and is also the home of The Wisconsin School For the Deaf, yet we have no appropriate outdoor recreation area for the less-abled members of our community.
When it comes time to build, Grenus says they will need about 2,000 volunteers to complete it.
The group continues to fundraise as it moves toward its goal. Learn how to sponsor a component or a fence picket on our website neversayneverplayground.com
Follow them on Facebook to stay up to date with events and meetings.