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Office of Communications and Media Relations | Mar 05, 2014
The City of McAllen Parks and Recreation Department and the Junior League of McAllen teamed up Wednesday March 5, 2014 for the groundbreaking of the Junior League of McAllen-No Boundaries Play Park. The recreational venue will be located at Morris Park at 7801 N. Main. Jr. League of McAllen President, Stephanie Moore believes this park will improve the quality of life for children and youth in our community.
“As we celebrate our 75th Anniversary as a volunteer organization, we’re so honored to be a part of this revolutionary park. We’re excited for the children who will play here and we hope it fosters imaginative play, creative expression and good old fun,” Moore said.
While all the playgrounds in McAllen observe the standards set forth by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), this will be the first outdoor recreational venue south of San Antonio designed specifically for children with special needs.
“This playground will have exercise equipment. It will have musical instruments. It will have a sandbox that children in wheelchairs can play in,” Sally Gavlik, Director of McAllen Parks and Recreation said. “It will have a backhoe so they can play in there, so a child with disabilities will be able to play with their siblings.”
The park was made possible by a $75,000 grant awarded to the City of McAllen Parks and Recreation Department through the Junior League of McAllen Inc.’s Anniversary Fund Grant. City leaders are proud of the collaboration between the community and the city.
“This is a welcome addition to our neighborhood. It’s been planned for many years,” said McAllen City Commissioner Scott C. Crane. “When all the phases are built out, this park will have 2.2 miles of jogging/walking trails that wind in and out and around these two schools – Morris Middle School and Perez Elementary School. We’re also tied to the hike and bike trail.”
The playground will feature a unique handicap accessible workout area. The exercise zone will feature nine stations, three of which will be specifically designed for users in wheelchairs. With weather permitting, the park is scheduled to be completed in May.
