Pearland Parks and Recreation recently broke ground on the Ed Thompson Inclusive Park in Pearland.
Forever Parks Foundation of Pearland
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On Monday, September 26th Pearland Parks and Recreation, Forever Parks Foundation, and numerous supporters gathered at the future site of the Ed Thompson Inclusive Park located at the Sports Complex at Shadow Creek Ranch to break ground on the highly anticipated project.
The 9,200 square ft. playground will serve the recreation needs for hundreds of families in
Brazoria County, specifically providing an opportunity for children of all abilities to experience play with their peers. The main features of the playground include wheelchair swings, sensory tunnels, accessible activity panels and electronic functions that appeal to individuals that may have disabilities that prevent them from physically engaging in certain types of play. The inclusive playground will have a rubberized surface similar to that of the Miracle League Field, to provide easy accessibility to disabled individuals in wheelchairs, as well as a "We-Go" wheelchair accessible swing and a "We-Go" Round (accessible merry-goround).
The Ed Thompson Inclusive Park was designed by Ms. Diane Scanlan with Inclusion Matters of Shane's Inspiration. The playground manufacturer of this location is Landscape Structures, and the contractor awarded the installation of the equipment and surfacing is Lone Star Recreation of Texas.
The City staff involved has been a partnership of our Parks and Recreation Department and Engineering and Public Works capital projects team. These staff include Mrs. Carry Capers, Director of Parks of Recreation, Mr. Chrystopher Bickham, Parks and Natural Resources Superintendent, Ms. Morgan Early, Project Manager of The Sports Complex at Shadow Creek Ranch Phase 2, and Mr. Joel Hardy, Grants and Special Projects Administrator. All of this could not have progressed without the support of our Mayor and Council, along with Mr. Clay Pearson, City Manager and Deputy City Manager, Mr. Trent Epperson.
This project would not be possible without the dedication and support of the Forever Parks Foundation and numerous supporters, partners, and donors. "When it's complete, this playground will allow children and families of all abilities and development stages to play together in a nurturing environment for everyone," said Jeff Webb, president of the Forever Parks Foundation of Pearland, an all-volunteer nonprofit organization that supports parks and recreation programs, projects, and facilities in the community. "For the past two years, we have been fortunate to have such generosity and engagement from the community, whose gifts are making this playground possible."
Representative Thompson championed a grant that was received through the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department and that is a huge reason this playground will exist. Additional donors include Premier and Presenting sponsor CenterPoint Energy Foundation, Gold Sponsor Pearland Volunteer Fire Department,
Brazoria County Municipal Utility Districts 26 & 34, Brazoria-Fort Bend Municipal Utility District 1, Silver Sponsors T-I-R-R Memorial Hermann. The Forever Parks Foundation also received grants from the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation and the Davis days Foundation. Champion level sponsors include Tejas Imagery and Media Services, iRun Productions, The Community Foundation of
Brazoria County, H-C-A Houston Pearland, and the Rotary Club of Pearland. And the inaugural "Mayor Kevin Cole's 1st Annual Benefit Golf Tournament" in June generated sixty thousand dollars towards the cause. There are contributors at many levels and opportunity to contribute at any level if you are passionate about this inclusive park.
Over the next 6 months the site will transform to be a location sought out from Pearland and surrounding communities to allow the play and engagement of children of all abilities. Not just children, but children at heart. These features will encourage the healthy play and educational discovery of all abilities, one right beside another. This playground will focus on a Pearland theme and reflect Pearland's commitment to our natural resources and incorporate play areas that will encourage children to seek and find various items throughout the areas of the playground. Many exploration options of natural and artistic features include pearscape features as seen around the locations around our City that have been produced by our Convention and Visitors Bureau and entail the work of local artists.
The inclusive playground equipment is scheduled to be installed and available for use by the Spring of 2023
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Pearland Parks and Recreation recently broke ground on the Ed Th
