Archived News Release: April 17, 2017 - City of Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation Services, together with the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor, will break ground on Friday, April 21 at 11 a.m. at the universal access playground located at Gallup Park, 3000 Fuller Road, Ann Arbor. The design team included City of Ann Arbor Landscape Architect Amy Kuras, SmithGroupJJR and Landscape Structures Inc. The event will include city officials, the Rotary committee and members of the community.
Collyer Smith, the Rotary Club's 2016-17 president, says he is thrilled that the universal access playground in Gallup Park, opening fall of 2017, is becoming a reality. "The Rotary Club is proud to celebrate its centennial year by partnering with the City of Ann Arbor in raising over $1 million toward a playground where children and adults of all abilities can play together."
The Rotary Club of Ann Arbor has donated $550,000 for the project budget. Additionally, a Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant of $300,000 was awarded to the City of Ann Arbor. The city's Park Maintenance and Capital Improvements Millage is funding $150,000 for the project.
Kuras, is also excited to see this project come to fruition. "The playground will celebrate the natural environment of the Ann Arbor region, incorporate a whimsical fairy theme and provide a regional playground accessible to all. Ann Arbor's park and recreation system is greatly benefitting from the generosity of the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor, the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund and the residents of Ann Arbor."
Josh Landefeld, Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation deputy manager said, "The Centennial Playground at Gallup Park will be a great addition to our parks system. We are very thankful to all who have helped make this project a reality, especially the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor."
The Rotary Club of Ann Arbor celebrates its 100-year anniversary in 2016 and has chosen to commemorate the milestone with a Centennial Playground Project at Gallup Park. This universal access playground is designed to be usable by all people to the greatest extent possible exceeding standards under the Americans with Disabilities Act including features and surfacing that will be inclusive, stimulating and fun for all users, whether fully independent, or with mobility, sensory or visual impairments. Specific playground features include a water/sand play area, a sensory garden, adaptive swings and moving play activities such as whirl and spring riders with back supports. Other universally accessible features of the project include grills, picnic tables, benches, a fishing pier and a canoe/kayak launch.
Additionally, the project will reconfigure a portion of the Border-to-Border Trail (which is part of the Iron Belle Trail) within the park to make it safer for trail riders and children using the play equipment. In the past year, the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor has additionally contributed more than 7,500 hours of service and $155,000 in contributions to local and international projects.
For further information about the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor, visit www.rotaryclubofannarbor.org/. Learn more about Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation Services by visiting www.a2gov.org/parks.
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