A Wagga mother has won council support for a new playground where disabled and able-bodied children can play side-by-side.
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Council will pitch in $100,000 to build an innovative all-inclusive playground at Bolton Park if the community can raise at least $100,000 of its own.
Leila Bright’s daughter Mia Stewart, 2, was born with one leg shorter than other and must be physically helped to access the swings and slides because she can’t push her walker over uneven surfaces nor climb stairs.
Ms Bright maintains children have a right to play and has called on Wagga residents and businesses to dig deep so families afflicted by disability don’t have to travel to Albury to have fun.
“Play is such an integral part of growing up; it’s how you learn to socialise and exercise,” Ms Bright said.
“It’s important to me that my girls can play together without boundaries.
“I don’t want my (able-bodied) daughter to be held back because Mia can’t participate; all kids should be equal.”
The park would cater to all manner of disabilities, including wheelchair-bound parents with able-bodied children.
“A friend of mine in a wheelchair can’t take his two-year-old daughter to any park in Wagga by himself, which just breaks my heart” Ms Bright said.
“Wagga’s playgrounds lack suitable parking and accessible pathways, they’re not fenced off so kids with disorders like autism can run off, and there aren’t any quiet areas for kids with autism who get overwhelmed.”
The fundraising drive is not capped, meaning the amenities and equipment at the playground will be limited by money and imagination.
Councillor Rod Kendall said disabled children weren’t considered by playground designers 30 years ago and it was high time to include everyone.
Cr Kendall said playgrounds that cater for all abilities were far more important than playgrounds designed exclusively for disabled children, because families need to play together.
“Some playgrounds are built for kids with a disability, but what does the able-bodied child do?” Cr Kendall said.
“We've provided playground facilities that people with routine disabilities can potentially use, but as a society we're only just coming to grips with catering for a full range of disabilities from full paraplegia through to intellectual disorders.
“We’re a city of 65,000 so we must make these types of play facilities available for our region.”
Donation enquiries can be addressed to Facebook pages Mia's Little Leg, Big Adventure or Friends of Livvi's Place Wagga.
This story first appeared on The Daily Advertiser