Community unites to build inclusive park for all children
By Duke Carter
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MILWAUKEE (WISN) — A community in Milwaukee is coming together to create an inclusive park where anyone can play on the city’s east side.
Roughly a dozen volunteers gathered at Kilbourn Reservoir Park near Fratney and Meinecke on Saturday to plant 1,200 tulips for a good cause.
“I’m really excited, just to see all kinds of kids here and building friendships of all kinds,” one volunteer said.
Kayla Schultz with Milwaukee Parks said, “Here are purple tulips going in the formation of TBD. You’ll see that (when) the surprise is unveiled.”
As volunteers plant tulips here at the park, it will all lead to the bigger project. A two-acre site where kids can come to the playground, where it’s inclusive for everyone.
The park will feature a full basketball court and two half courts that will be accessible for adaptive wheelchair play.
“There will be a water feature that includes a non-functional, but an aesthetic drawbridge, as well as a giant purple dragon that has playable wings,” Schultz said.
Purple is 9-year-old Stella’s favorite color. She had a cancerous tumor in her brain in July 2023. A year later, she had the tumor removed, but wasn’t able to play at the park in the same way due to new mobility issues. Her mom, Rese, made a promise to build a playground that all kids could use.
“It’s such an incredible thing to see so many people come together, and they each bring their own story. I bring my story from my experience with Stella,” Rese said.
The community is now making the family’s dream a reality.
“It’s been hard. But we have such an incredible community. We have such incredible friends. We have such an incredible family,” Rese said.
“I want to see a purple dragon, tulips, and monkey bars,” Stella said.
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