Gravity Rail

Featuring an accessible design that allows for a wheelchair transfer area on the current treehouse, the gravity rail offers a rare opportunity for movement that is not self-propelled. This project was made possible with the financial support of the DuPage Foundation and an anonymous donor.

Net Climber
This exciting new play piece offers the industry’s first net climber with a transfer platform, an aid used to allow for the easy transfer to and from the playground equipment to a wheelchair, that is attached to an accessible route leading to a six-foot slide. As a result, children of all abilities can experience a wider range of play adventures and physical, social-emotional, and cognitive skill development. Thank you to the JCS Arts, Health and Education Fund at the DuPage Foundation and First Trust.

For your 10 years of service to the Play For All Playground & Garden Foundation.

From Sandy Gbur:

Play is critical to the development of all kids. The Sensory Garden Playground project has been a joy to work with for the past 10 years. The idea that we can come together as a community and raise funds for each phase is, for me, the definition of inspiration.

As the former Executive Director of the Western DuPage Special Recreation Association, I am so appreciative of the opportunity to provide presentations to local service clubs and donors so that they could be part of this amazing project. The idea that we can build a play space focused on children with special needs and schedule Play Days that will bring children with and without disabilities together is a great way to teach the importance of inclusion at such an early age.

Thanks to Will Grosch of Community Bank, we formed the Play for All Playground & Garden Foundation which allowed us to form a 501(c)(3) and accept donations that were earmarked for a particular phase. The Wheaton Park District staff have been so committed to this project and a joy to work with, from finding the site to build this magical space, to holding fundraisers, to ordering the equipment and installing it. Mike Benard’s leadership of the foundation has contributed to our success. Our first large grant from Shane’s Inspiration provided us with the design for the playground that supported the rich history of the Danada area. It is named for Dan and Ada Rice who owned Lucky Debonair, a thoroughbred racehorse that won the 1965 Kentucky Derby.

Perhaps it took a worldwide pandemic for us to understand the real value of connection, playing outdoors and de-stressing. Seventeen percent of kids ages 6 to 12 experience mental health issues. As parents, we must move away from screens and social media and go out and enjoy life. We must set the example for our children! Our children’s well-being has to be our priority and there is nothing better than unscheduled free play.

Each phase of the sensory garden project is built in a beautiful forest preserve surrounded by nature. All donations, no matter how small, will help us to build the 5 to 12-year-old play area which is now our focus. Perhaps you have children or grandchildren who could enjoy this play area at 2751 Navistar Drive in Lisle.

It takes all of us to build community! My thanks to all of the private foundations, anonymous donors and all those who have taken the time to support our efforts. You are all appreciated.

Thank you to all of the families who joined us this year at the Play Days. Each play day focused on a theme that included imagination play, construction, oceans, and insects. Activity bags were handed out to the first 50 children. We’re looking forward to bringing back our interactive and play stations in 2022 that will include activities like face painting, tie-dye and much more.

Help us meet the $55,000 matching grant fundraising challenge. All fall and winter donations will be doubled – and will help build the 5 to 12-year-old playground twice as fast!

For many families, parks like the Sensory Garden Playground have played a vital role in helping to maintain both physical and emotional well-being during COVID-19. Parks and playgrounds have allowed friends and extended family members to find ways to come together in a safe, socially-distanced manner and stay physically active amid the pandemic.

COVID-19 not only brought with it significant increases in the number of playground visitors and visits, but it also had a significant but negative impact on fundraising efforts, resulting in delays in construction timelines for new projects.

We need your help to build the new 5 to 12-year-old playground that will feature accessible play elements like climbers, slides, a timed horse race track and more!

This fall, we are asking for your financial support to help with the construction of the 5 to 12-year-old playground.

Will you make a tax-deductible donation today to the Sensory Garden Playground project at playforall.kindful.com?

Thank you in advance for your donation and for helping to make “play for all” possible.