What's on your summer bucket list? One item on ours is to discover new parks in our area.
I enjoy researching new playdate destinations. But recently, a new park found us. While out on a bike ride over Memorial Day weekend, we stumbled upon an amazing playground along the Fox River. Ever since that day, I haven't stopped telling literally everyone about it.
Watch out... you're next...
Whether you have a child with special needs, or a typically developing child, you've gotta visit the I'm Able Playground at SEBA Park (151 Water St. in South Elgin, Ill.).
Not all parks are created equal, and our family has experienced this firsthand. My eldest daughter, Elsa, has the rare chromosome disorder Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome, and she is not (yet) walking. So going to the park can be tough...
- There is usually mulch galore. This makes it hard to wheel Elsa's wheelchair around and also challenging for her to practice walking.
- It's often difficult to access a park's hallmark features without carrying Elsa all around the playground, which makes for sore backs for mom and dad.
- Slides (while plentiful at many parks) tend to be pretty narrow, preventing a friend, sibling or parent from safely joining Elsa for the ride down.
- The sight lines are often very poor, which can make it difficult to keep track of my other girls as I try to facilitate movement with Elsa.
The folks who designed the I'm Able Playground addressed all of these challenges. Classified as universally accessible, the I'm Able Playground aims to foster friendship and understanding among kids of all abilities.
Many of the playground components can be accessed via wheelchair. How cool is this ramp system?
We love the accessible swings... and that there are two of them! (Check out that view of the Fox River in the background, too.)
You can fit a dozen or so people (and a wheelchair or two) in the big rocking boat below...
This cool bumpy slide includes plenty of room for kids big and small - alone or paired up...
Elsa's favorite feature? No contest. The hammock. (There tends to be a line for use of this popular piece of equipment.)
Basically, Fox Valley friends: If you ever want to meet up at the I'm Able Playground this summer, the Schulte girls are there! We can picnic, play, then grab ice cream, like we did with our fab friends the Palombis last week. No better way to end a summer playdate!
I'M ABLE PLAYGROUND AT SEBA PARK: Partners of the I'm Able Playground at SEBA Park (South Elgin Business Association) include the Village of South Elgin and the FUNdation, in collaboration with Shane's Inspiration and Landscape Structures, Inc.