Rochester Hills needs your help in a crowdfunding effort to bring forth the first inclusive playground at Innovation Hills Park. With families looking for a place to take their kids to play outdoors, this couldn’t come at a better time. In partnership with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Rochester Hills needs to raise $50,000 by May 31st to help complete the city’s newest playground at Innovation Hills Park. If the crowdfunding goal is successful, the MEDC will provide a matching grant for a total of $100,000 for the playground funding. The MEDC will match dollar to dollar up to $50,000, but if they don’t reach the goal, they get nothing. Can you help them reach their goal?
The funds are going to create a new three-acre playground designed to inspire a love of nature and be accessible for everyone including children and adults with disabilities. Children will be able to play inside a Babb Oak Treehouse and even run their fingers through a flowing splash river that mimics the Clinton River cutting through the park. There will also be a themed bridge, over 20 unique play elements, two pavilions, and a sand play area.
The playground equipment is also designed with specific earth tones to prevent overstimulation for those on the autism spectrum. The playground will also be fenced in to prevent children from wandering. There will be ramps and transfer access on all play components, a universally designed route to the accessible restrooms, and an open quiet area with no playground equipment for those who want to be away from large groups. Walking through the park I can see the vision that they want to create.
Innovation Park is 110 acres with 62 acres south of Clinton River and 48 acres of Green Space north of the river. Things to do at the park: you can hike, walk, or bike a one-mile paved/boardwalk that they keep clear all year long. This is a wonderful park to walk around the ponds and admire the waterfalls. If you are looking for a place to take photographs there are some great places with water and rocks that will make a lovely background. You might even see kids sunbathing on the hills if the weather is nice. And at night, solar lighting will light your way along with a glowing pavement. Innovation Park is at 2800 W. Hamlin Road in Rochester Hills.
If the crowdfunding effort is successful, it is expected to have the playground done for a grand opening this summer. If you would like to contribute to this wonderful community effort, visit rochesterhills.org/playground. The donation portal will be open until May 31 and will close at midnight. You can also make checks payable to the ‘Community Foundation of Greater Rochester’ and drop them off or mail them to the Mayor’s Office, City of Rochester Hills, 1000 Rochester Hills Drive, Rochester Hills, MI 48309. I do hope that they achieve their crowdfunding goals this week. This is one park that Rochester Hills needs to have and frankly more communities should create inclusive playgrounds for everyone.