By Sonny Jones
Demond Reese and Keola “KO” Ikeda were spending an overcast Wednesday afternoon putting together a puzzle. A really, really, really big $500,000 puzzle.
The two men from Fayetteville were among a crew that is erecting a new playground at Bladen County Park. Funding is provided by Trillium Health Resources as part of its “Play Together Construction Grant for Accessible Playgrounds.”
Bladen County Park is located on U.S. 701 about halfway between Elizabethtown and Clarkton. The old playground has been torn down.
The all-inclusive playground may include a Liberty Swing for children and adults who use wheelchairs, glider, quad-seater see saw, jungle climber with adaptive seating and entranceway, and a rocking boat — accommodations that provide an opportunity for individuals of all ages and abilities to play together outside, according to Trillium.
“Trillium is so excited to start on this playground and continue making a positive impact on the community,” Trillium CEO Joy Futrell said. “This playground will help children with disabilities to better enjoy play time with their peers, and family members with disabilities can participate in outside play together. By focusing on the power of play rather than our differences, this park will eliminate the stigma of disabilities.”
Reese said it should take about two weeks to construct the playground.
“Bladen County Parks and Recreation is very excited about the new inclusive playground at the Bladen County Park and the opportunity for children of all abilities to play together,” Bladen County Parks and Recreation Director Grant Pait said. “We know the inclusive playground will be a great asset to our region.”
According to Trillium, funding for the playground is a result of the care management company’s ability to effectively and efficiently manage Medicaid services on a local level, ultimately providing an opportunity to reinvest savings into the communities in which it operates.
Trillium Health Resources is a specialty care manager for individuals with substance use, mental illness and intellectual/developmental disabilities in Bladen County and 27 other counties in eastern North Carolina. For more information, visit www.TrilliumHealthResources.org.
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