CLINTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (July 18, 2024) — Today, Sen. Veronica Klinefelt (D-Eastpointe) joined Rep. Denise Mentzer (D-Mt. Clemens) and local leaders in Clinton Township to celebrate the groundbreaking of a project to build an inclusive playground that can accommodate children of all physical and intellectual abilities. This project was made possible in part due to a $1 million appropriation secured by Sen. Klinefelt and Rep. Mentzer in the state budget for Fiscal Year 2024.
“Today’s groundbreaking is an exciting step towards having a space where all kids, regardless of their physical and intellectual abilities, can come together and play,” said Sen. Klinefelt. “The community has worked so hard to see this project come to a reality, and I am just so happy to have assisted them in this endeavor. This park will be a huge asset for Clinton Township families.”
Efforts to build a specialized playground featuring universal design concepts that could accommodate children with disabilities began in late 2019 when the township’s Board of Trustees sanctioned the Inclusive Playground Committee and approved donating space for the project near the main branch of the Clinton-Macomb Public Library. The project is projected to cost a total of $1.4 million dollars, which includes $1 million in funding from the Fiscal Year 2024 State Budget, $300,000 from the township, and $100,000 in charitable contributions spearheaded by the Inclusive Playground Committee and the Arc of Macomb.
The goal of the playground is to lessen the physical and financial barriers to outdoor recreation for people with disabilities who are too often overlooked and excluded from everyday activities. As nearly 25% of Macomb County families with a person with a disability live in Clinton Township, the project allows the township to make great strides in building a more inclusive and welcoming community for all.
For more information about the inclusive playground, please call (586) 286-9366 or email inclusiveplayground@clintontownship.com.