Update on the park..

The construction crews are working hard!  The curbing is all in and the gravel is going down, it's starting to take shape and you can see the magnitude of this park!   These pictures are taken from Cherry Rd side next to the Fire Station, we love our neighbors! 

All the red dirt on this side of the gravel is playground space and this is ONLY a portion of the space! 

Straight across you can see the pipes sticking up for the Concession area and the bathrooms including the family bathroom with an adult changing station.  

 

Inclusive Whirl

The Inclusive Whirl provides ease of access for people of all abilities with its zero entry design.  The whirl surface platform is at ground level with no need for ramps or transfer mechanisms.  It features bench seating (at transfer height), a large platform surface that exceeds the ADA requirement for turn-around space and handrails for users to grasp while spinning!  Who is ready to ride???

Sensory Dome

How will you or your children express themselves on this playground piece?!?!  You will start to see it being installed in the VERY near future! 

The Sensory Dome features multiple pathways to crawl on, through, around, and over.  It has a chain pod to access the top of the dome from underneath and bells on the side!  There is full access for a child in a mobility device to travel inside the dome. 

Can you help with the cost of this piece?  www.miracleparkrockhill.com 

 

Sensory Cove Climber

Children use the Sensory Cove Climber as a quiet space to rest, relax and gather with friends. It's the perfect place to observe play from a distance until you are ready to join in, or a sensory-relief area, when necessary. More than a seating and gathering area, this versatile product doubles as a climbing activity.

The Yalp Memo

The Yalp Memo, great for brain training for ALL ages and abilities, provides a lot of fun in a confined space and encourages gamification.  Gamification is the application of game thinking and game techniques and shows you can quickly learn new things without the use of guides or manuals.  Although the Memo may be a technically advanced playset, its operation is child-friendly and intuitive.  

With a big library of games to choose from, the Memo is one of the most versatile and dynamic outdoor play products in the world. It stimulates younger players to play together and cooperate creatively.  

In general, children are wholly unaffected by everything and just do whatever comes up in their heads.  That's why we've programmed all our games with simple rules that can be easily modified.  The Memo is intuitive and open to creativity and stimulates younger players to develop their own sets of rules and ideas. 

Zip line YOUR way!

This piece of equipment will be similar to our zip line and will allow all children to zip and race together! Here is Kidus, who has low muscle tone and needs the support of the swing, racing his cousin!

This zipline was installed in the new All Play Together Inclusive Playground in Tega Cay, which was manufactured by the same company that will build the Miracle Park playground- Cunningham Recreation/GameTime who is also a SPONSOR of the park!

Musical Playground!

“I would teach children music, physics, and philosophy; but most importantly music, for the patterns in music and all the arts are the keys to learning” -Plato

Calling all music lovers, 2 year olds, 40 year olds, 80 year olds and more!  The Miracle Park Playground will have musical elements to explore!  We can't wait for you to experience them when the park opens!  Here are some examples below of the pieces in storage for us right now ready to be installed!

Are you a music lover that is so excited for kids to have this opportunity?  Please donate today at www.miracleparkrockhill.com.  Thanks!

May 5, 2021 Progress

Buddy AND Future Athletes!

My name is Emma Sessions. I’ll be a 6th grader at Sullivan Middle School this year and I’m very excited about Miracle Park! The park is a big deal for our family for one because it’s so close to our house and two, because I have two little brothers with special needs. I’m looking forward to volunteering as a buddy to help my brothers learn to play sports (both are future Miracle Park athletes). 

With the help of the park, my brothers can learn about teamwork and friendship with others. I think it’s very important how people have collaborated to plan an amazing park for kids of all abilities.

Playground Piece: The Yalp Sona Arch

This is a cool piece of playground equipment ordered for our one-of-a-kind playground for all! Watch how kids and senior adults enjoy the Sona Arch on you tube!

The Sona Arch can benefit people with dementia and Alzheimer's with the games that use music and simple memory skills. It incorporates dance, number recognition, code breaking, and other things that have proven to help those with different conditions that effect our memory.

The playground will also have a walking path around it so that people with all abilities and different ways to move can walk, which also helps brain development and disorders.

Explanation of the Sona Arch from their website:

The Yalp Sona includes various exciting and supportive games, such as a dance competition, a game where children have to keep a sequence of numbers, or a lightning-fast racetrack. The game begins, and the children can start right away. With each game, the levels build up in difficulty keeping the games exciting, and children make up their own rules, the game remains challenging at all times. We also regularly develop new games that adapt to the changing world of children.

The Yalp Sona interactive dance and play arch is developed for permanent outdoor use. The bow contains a motion sensor that reacts accurately to the children’s movements on the dance floor. All electronics are safely housed in the steel frame of the Sona. The 4m x 4m play floor is freely accessible (even with a wheelchair), and several children can play on it at the same time. The Sona is fun for the whole family: we regularly see parents and grandparents playing with their children and grandchildren.

There is really something for all!

Featured Future Miracle Park Athlete - Tristan

Hi! My name is Tristan, and I am three years old. I had a neuroblastoma with resulting delays but that doesn’t stop me from doing my best and playing my heart out! 

I love the Backstreet Boys and NSYNC- 90’s music rocks! I also love Paw Patrol, Scooby Doo, and riding in my new blue sports car wagon. 

I am excited about Miracle Park coming to my town. I can’t wait to hold a ball and strengthen my sports skills. I love playing basketball with my dog, Dodger and my EI- who is also a great “bubble blower”. 

Miracle Park will be a great place for me to play outdoors, grow and spend time with my parents.

There are so many kids like Tristan that will benefit from this park, it will have the adaptations he needs, but want separate him from his peers, they can play alongside him no matter what their abilities are!  Can you help support this park so Tristan and his friends can have a safe place to come play outside together?  www.miracleparkrockhill.com 

Outdoor Exercise Equipment

Jump on your bike, walk, or jog over to the park because did you know that the playground will have a corner of it with outdoor exercise equipment?  

ALL ages and ALL abilities can strengthen their muscles, do physical therapy, and keep moving while kids are playing!  Here are some examples of what outdoor equipment looks like.  It uses your body weight and pressure to make it harder and unique to what each person needs. 

Who will come and use this!  We really mean it when we say there is something for EVERYBODY!

Shoulder Rotator

Chest Press

Recumbent Cycle

Assisted Step Trainer

Leg Press

Let Pull Down

All this takes money to bring it to Rock Hill, if you can help us finish out paying for Phase One go to www.miracleparkrockhill.com.  Thanks!

Featured Future Miracle Park Athlete- Phillip

I am Phillip and have lived in this community my whole life. I am looking forward to Miracle Park coming to town. I love sports and being outdoors. A Miracle League will be a great addition to my life! 

I have Autism- sometimes community places with lots of noise and activity can be a little overwhelming for me. 

At Miracle Park, I can visit with family, participate in a Miracle League with friends I already have while making new ones. If I need a break- there will be designated quiet places for me to go to calm for a little while and specific sensory-friendly areas as well. Knowing this gives me confidence that I can participate in more activities than I might have tried otherwise. 

So excited to have this new option available to me and to others!

Please join in others to help us raise money for Phillip and his friends no matter what their ability to have a park to play! 

Donate online today!

A Park for ALL...yes you!

This REALLY a park for ALL (yes YOU)...We've explained how important it is to remove barriers for those with special needs and mobility issues, and we've often said it will be a park for ALL! We really mean that....Keep reading to hear how we've designed the park for everyone and what sports will be programmed at the park Spring 2021!!

    Miracle Park is an inclusive park, so we have made special efforts to look at all parts of the park with a focus on accessibility for those with different abilities. We have featured future athletes who need these accommodations because too often these folks are excluded in our society (both intentionally and unintentionally), or are an afterthought when places are built since most buildings and parks are constructed to MINIMUM accessibility requirements, which are still inaccessible to some. Because of this, we have showcased the aspects of our park that set us apart from other parks due to our Universal Design. 

Universal Design | Progressive AE

HOWEVER, we want to be sure to reiterate that this is not a "special needs park;" that defeats the purpose of it being inclusive!  

We want EVERYONE to come visit and play at Miracle Park. Our state of the art playground does have special pieces that have been designed so that people with many different needs can play. However, we also have traditional swings, slides, and zip lines for typically developing 

folks. The walking trails and air resistance strength training equipment will be great for adults and seniors looking to stay in shape while listening to the laughter of children.  

We want to create a space where everyone can play TOGETHER!  

The fields will host activities for ALL. We will have one traditional field on which Rock Hill Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Department will continue to schedule Little League and softball games.  We will have multi-purpose fields for flag football, baseball, basketball, soccer, and more. Until those fields are finished, we can use the Miracle field for these sports when it's not softball/baseball season. ALL Miracle League games will have buddies, which are typically developing peers who partner with a friend with different abilities.

Speaking of buddies, Jayden Carroll and Brodie Kennedy from Northwestern High School have told their stories about being a buddy already, they are looking forward to the opening of Miracle Park so that they will finally have a place outside of school to hang out with ALL of their friends! 

We will also have a shelter at the playground and areas near the concession stand where you can host birthday parties for ALL of your friends without wondering if someone can get there due to mobility needs. Miracle Park will truly be a park for ALL!  

Please consider how the park will benefit your friends and family, and if you can, DONATE to help ensure all of Phase 1 is constructed by the end of this year!

Future Buddy: Jayden Carroll

Jayden Carroll is a junior at Northwestern. She met Ellie as a freshman in her Musical  Theatre class and then joined the the Trojan Buddies program to be sure they could spend more time together. While Ellie loves to be a part of her school community and frequents many activities, sometimes indoor events are too loud or too crowded to really be enjoyable for both of them. The girls have fun together in many places, from shopping to swimming, but both are really looking forward to being able to just hang out at the park and maybe even playing on some teams together! 

Jayden said, "As soon as Ellie walked into the classroom, I knew we would be friends. She is hilarious and gives the best hugs! She will make your day with an unexpected compliment that you didn't even know you needed! We are much more alike than different, in every way imaginable. The fact that she has Down syndrome is never the first thing I notice about her, although it is part of what makes her beautiful! I am very blessed to call Ellie my best friend!"

Future Buddy: Brodie Kennedy

Brodie Kennedy is a sophomore at Northwestern High School. He is involved in several extracurricular activities including JV baseball, but his favorite is being a buddy for Mrs. Park’s class. 

Brodie said, "I chose to be a buddy because I believe that my social circle should expand beyond just my classmates and everyone should have friends. Being a buddy in Mrs. Park’s class is the highlight of my day! I have grown to love and care for her students not just as a buddy, but also as a friend. Being a buddy has helped me understand, learn and love those students that some might think are different and not take the opportunity to get to know." 

Brodie can't wait to meet his friends at the park and teach them some baseball skills or just have fun and hang out!

Want to be on the list to volunteer like Brodie? Please click here to sign up for updates to know when we need you to start. 

Featured Future Miracle Park Athlete - Brooke

My name is Brooke Craig.  Growing up I played on basketball, volleyball, and softball teams.  My all-time favorite was softball because I was the pitcher.  

On January 24, 2013, when I was 17, I was in a car accident, and now I use a wheelchair.   I am now 25 and that has not stopped me from living my best life.   I am looking forward to Miracle Park so I can play on a field that my chair will freely move on.  

I hope to be the pitcher of a team again very soon!  I am also looking forward to playing on a team with all of my friends and my sister Brittany beside me.

Miracle Park is giving folks like Brooke a second chance at the things they love, can you help fund this park by donating today? 

Sponsor Highlight: Sturgis Beaty Insurance Group LLC

"Sturgis Beaty Insurance Group LLC is humbled to sponsor the greatest sports program in our area. Every person at our agency has coached and played sports so this program excites us knowing kids that couldn’t participate now have a program to create their own memories. We encourage our community to participate in sponsoring this program and we are thankful to the board and volunteers that made this possible."  -Tim Sturgis

Can you join Sturgis Beaty Insurance group as a donor?  We NEED you NOW more than ever!  We need 500, $1000 repeat or new donors to be able to meet immediate needs for us to complete Phase One!

Featured Future Miracle Park Athlete - Tina

My name is Tina Cook.  I am 35 years old, and I like to swim, bowl and play bocce.   I am excited for Miracle Park to open so I can play on the playground and on a sports team.  When I was little, I watched my brother play on sports teams with his friends, and I always wanted to do that too.  Now I will be able to play on a team with my friends.  AND……I can have my fans cheering for me in the crowd!

Can you help us support Tina and all others excited to be at this park?  Do to unseen hurdles associated with stay-at-home orders our fundraising has be effected tremendously!  We need $2,000,000 to be able to build out all of Phase 1 like we want to, which means we need your help and commitment.  Go to www.miracleparkrockhill.com to find out how you can help. 

Sensory area concept

We are so excited about the Sensory Area of our park! This will be right outside the concessions and main restroom building. All five senses will be featured. The tactile wall will feature different textures to stimulate the sense of touch and will have specific features to represent elements of a field and sports equipment for those not quite ready to join a team. The auditory wall will have carefully chosen pieces to make a variety of sounds. All the colors in the area and in our logo are based on how the brain responds to color; for example, yellow is the first color recognized by the brain, and blue produces a calming effect. We will have a sensory garden for the senses of taste and smell. Plants will be pleasant to smell and safe to taste. Finally, there will be a sensory pathway that will be available to all. We hope that therapists will also use this pathway to bring their clients to the park to allow families to enjoy the park together while doing therapy outside! The photos above are some inspirational photos and early renderings of the area. We can’t wait to see our ideas become reality!

BUT, we still need $4,000,000 in funding ($4,000,000 already raised) to finish the job!  Can you help by donating today?  https://www.miracleparkrockhill.com/donations

Sponsor: Stevenson & Weir

Concrete is the cornerstone material in foundations and structures and community service is the cornerstone of building great communities. Fortunately, we at Stevenson-Weir, Inc. have this amazing opportunity to gift our products, materials and equipment for community service to enhance our great City of Rock Hill with supporting the development of Miracle Park. 

Coined the “Green Team” due to our vibrant green color and our team approach to providing service we equally value hard work ethic as well as play.  Although play is often thought of as a “child’s job” it is vital in all stages of life.  Learning through play increases social and cognitive learning as well as functional abilities.  Individuals with mental and physical disabilities are not afforded appropriate avenues to enhance development. Miracle Park will provide the framework for inclusion for all abilities to play, develop, socialize, learn from each other and work!  We are PROUD to partner with other local businesses and individuals to bring Miracle Park to fruition to find JOY together through PLAY for ALL citizens with ALL abilities.

“The Green Team”

Stevenson-Weir, Inc

We are SO blessed to have Stevenson-Weir, Inc. as a Major sponsor at the Miracle Park, please take the time to thank them for their support and partnership with us. 

We still need more funding...can you be our next sponsor?  https://www.miracleparkrockhill.com/donations

-The Miracle Park Team

Featured Future Miracle Park Athlete - Emily

My name is Emily Saverance; I am 34 years old, and I LOVE sports!  I have played on golf teams, soccer teams, bowling teams, bocce teams and swim teams.  I have competed at the local, state, national, and world levels for swimming and bowling.  I am looking forward to the sports that will be played at Miracle Park, but I am really excited that they will be hiring people with disabilities to work there.  I am a hard worker and worked at a bakery for over 10 years until they closed down.  I hope to be hired there so I can earn my own money, be independent and work with people in our community.

We still need $4,000,000 to complete phases 2 and 3 of the park, can you support the park today?  www.miracleparkrockhill.com 

Universal Design - This is what sets us apart!

Miracle Park's goal is accessibility, equity, and the removal of barriers.  We have looked at the physical and social barriers of other playgrounds and parks and tried to remove them so that people of all ages, abilities, races, and genders can play, work, and hang out TOGETHER without barriers.

Thanks to the Ryan Doherty and Progressive AE, we have been able to research and pursue Universal Design Certification -- While grounded in ADA, this process offers far more potential for inclusion by using established guidelines for buildings and spaces to help meet the needs of different populations, including: the elderly, individuals with disabilities, those recovering from injury, and people with hearing and sight challenges. Universal Design (Universal Design | Progressive AE) is dedicated to designing spaces where everyone is given what they need to succeed. It is an opportunity to create a space where physical and social barriers are removed to create an environment that was designed with everyone in mind with the ultimate goal of full inclusion. 

The Universal Design principles incorporated into the project will enable Miracle Park to apply for Universal Design certification, one of only a few buildings in the world to have currently achieved this status and the first athletic Park of this kind to be certified in the world. 

This takes more funding to make this happen than a regular park, can you help by donating today?  https://www.miracleparkrockhill.com/donations

To learn even more about Universal Design visit this site. 

Featured Future Miracle Park Athlete - Ke'Avian

I am Ke’Avian, and I am three years old. I go to school in York, and I love to eat, laugh and play ball. I love to be outdoors and like to hear the birds sing. I am working on my balance, sitting and standing now. My Mom, Dad and Grandma are excited that we can go to Miracle Park- where I can play on any playground equipment I want to. The Miracle Park will give me a chance to exercise, make new friends, try new physical activities- all while being outside. My family is excited about a special park coming to our community- for me.