Latisha Freemantle (aged 7) wondered why she only saw healthy children with no disabilities playing in playgrounds. She asked her grandmother, “why?” So began a search. She sent a letter to the Mayor of Porirua Nick Leggett.
The Variety Club in conjunction with various charities have put a Liberty Swing which holds a wheelchair in many cities throughout New Zealand. Other Liberty Swings can be found around the world, many thanks to the help of local Rotary Clubs.
The Exeter Mencap Society worked with their local Exeter Rotary Clubs and other charity organisations to develop an “all inclusive playground”. Local Trustee Miriam Guard said that the Rotary clubs have been very helpful, including planting purple crocuses which they donated as part of the international campaign to eradicate polio.
In New Zealand there are only 26 of these wheelchair swings. Many have a $10 charge for use, whereas others are only available for special occasions.
It’s almost impossible for a child in a wheelchair to negotiate the bark chips that are in many playgrounds in order to reach, or even touch, some of the play equipment.
Plimmerton Rotary also researched other playgrounds overseas. In Dothan, Alabama the local Rotary Clubs teamed with business, council and the community to build ‘The Rotary Miracle Playground’.
In Tallahassee, Florida a similar type of partnering resulted in a huge park called Tom Brown Park and playground. It’s size is outside our wildest dreams in Porirua, however we believe that a start should be made.
Latishia, her mother and representatives of both Rotary Clubs of Porirua Sundown and Plimmerton visited the Mayor who told them that Porirua City Council is very supportive and has already started work on revitalising playgrounds around the city because 25% of Porirua citizens are children, and just over 20% of people in the city have some sort of disability.
Undertaking improvements is very expensive so it will take some time.
The two Rotary Clubs are currently working together and see this project as potentially a cluster-wide opportunity as well as a long-term partnership with the council and other interested groups. We all want to achieve the best outcome for Porirua city.
Visit http://plimmertonrotary.org.nz/articles+Index/Every+child+deserves+to+play to read the full story.
By Adrienne Murray, Rotary Club of Plimmerton
