Playground Guide - 2018 - 14

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Embrace Park

rowth. Acceptance. Empathy. Understanding.
These are all benefits of an inclusive play community that Emily Afrank sought for her town and
her patients. Afrank is a pediatric physical therapist at a local hospital and noticed that the young patients she
worked with made great strides in physical therapy, but when
they would go to the local park, the parks weren't designed
to meet their needs. Afrank began doing research to create a
space that could meet all children where they are, no matter
what their ability. From this research and passion, Embrace
Park in Norfolk, Nebraska, was born.
Once the idea was formulated, it was time for a plan and
to begin fundraising. Afrank and the team reached out to the
community and asked people what they could give. Everything
from $5 to $10,000 added up to create the beautiful, inclusive
space that is Embrace Park.
When Afrank and the team started the design of the playground, their focus remained inclusiveness. Whether a child is
in a wheelchair, uses a walker or has full mobility and can run

Parks & Recreation

around, they wanted everyone to be able to play together in the
same space, each child being challenged at his or her ability level.
In partnership with the Norfolk Family YMCA, the Norfolk
Area Community Foundation Fund and the city of Norfolk,
the park opened to everyone with a ribbon-cutting celebration.
Two years in the making, this fully inclusive park is everything
Afrank hoped for and more. With smooth unitary surfacing
and the entire space as an accessible route, everyone can move
through the playground and create games, get much-needed
exercise and develop socially, emotionally and cognitively. The
entire playground, from the Cruiser® to the fully ramped Nucleus® structure to the Volito™ swing, helps all children find
the best of themselves through play and learn to embrace everyone's uniqueness.

www.bciburke.com
800.356.2070

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http://www.bciburke.com http://www.TION.ORG

Playground Guide - 2018

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Playground Guide - 2018