Join fight for Chloe

5K/Coffee Stroll around Lake Nokomis on Oct. 8 honors two-year-old who died

by Tesha M. Christensen, Longfellow/Nokomis Messenger

Last year, two-year-old Chloe Sophia Barnes was fighting for her life, a fight that ended on Nov. 19, 2010. This year, her parents, Erica and Philip Barnes, are planning a benefit in her honor.

A 5K Family Timed Run/Coffee Stroll to raise money for MLD (metachromatic leukodystrophy) will be held on Lake Nokomis Saturday, Oct. 8. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and the run/stroll starts at 9 a.m.

The event is in honor of Chloe’s brave and courageous battle, explains, Erica, a speech pathologist at Hale Elementary. Learn more at ChloesFight.org.

Every day this fall is an anniversary of something horrible that happened the year before, observed Philip, an analyst for Ameriprise Financial Center. Planning this benefit has helped he and his wife channel their ever-present sadness while being surrounded by people who care.

“We don’t feel alone in remembering Chloe because every waking moment people are asking about Chloe’s Fight and showing interest in Chloe. The planning is both stressful and therapeutic somehow,” Philip stated.

What’s wrong with my daughter?

At first, Philip and Erica thought their second daughter was just a slow learner. But when she wasn’t walking by 14 months, Erica knew something was wrong. Trained in rehabilitation, Erica could see that Chloe wanted to do something but couldn’t get her body to follow her instructions. Her little girl wasn’t sleeping and wanted to be held all the time. “That baby is in pain,” Erica told her husband.

The first pediatrician recommended physical therapy. They got a second opinion and this time the doctor ordered the MRI Erica had asked for.

When the hospital called back the same day, Erica knew the news was bad.

“There’s something wrong with her myelin,” Erica was told.

And that’s when she knew.

“At that moment I remember saying in my mind, ‘I’m going to lose Chloe. She’s going to die,’” Erica recalled.

Two agonizing months later, they got a diagnosis: metachromatic leukodystrophy or MLD. Children with this rare genetic disease are given three to five years. The doctor explained it like this: Chloe feels like her legs and hands are asleep all the time.

Despite the pain, Chloe was happy and courageous

That’s when Philip and Erica realized just how courageous their little girl was. Despite experiencing constant tingling and pain, she was still a happy little girl, said her mother, and the “spunkiest girl ever.” She would sit on a stool and try to pull herself up as taught in physical therapy, despite the colossal effort it was, Erica remembered. If she did it, she was so proud. “I did it, I did it,” she’d say.

“It was heartbreaking, but it was beautiful,” Erica observed.

MLD typically isn’t caught until a child loses the ability to walk and is finding it difficult to breathe. By that time, there is little doctors can do. The Barnes were lucky to catch it early and that gave them hope.

The Barnes scheduled a stem cell transplant at the Mayo Clinic on Oct. 1, 2010. Chloe died from complications of that transplant and an acceleration of MLD six weeks later.

“We were lucky and Chloe got a chance,” Erica said. “Most of the time, they don’t catch it early enough and kids slowly die. They go into a vegetative state.”

When it became clear to them that Chloe was going to die, they entered the hospice program and brought Chloe home.  Eva, who is 18 months older than Chloe, put a cookie on Chloe’s pillow and asked when her sister was going to be better. Telling Eva that her sister was home to die was a horrible conversation, recalled Erica. “I prayed for her. Why didn’t Jesus make her better?” Eva asked.

As Christians, Erica and Philip asked the same question and reached the conclusion that they can’t make sense of what happened. It is their paradox of faith, Erica explained.

Through everything that happened, Erica didn’t shy away from crying in front of Eva. After Chloe’s death, Erica told Eva, “I’m really sad Chloe is in heaven, but I’m glad that you’re here with me.”

It’s important to Erica and Philip that Eva knows that people can be happy and sad at the same time.

Help make a difference

The upcoming benefit on Oct. 8 was born out of a desire to do something and make a difference.

A friend’s wish to run a marathon in Chloe’s honor morphed into a 5K for serious runners and a coffee stroll for serious coffee drinkers. Three coffee stations with complimentary coffee and treats will be set up around Lake Nokomis, a place that Chloe used to visit every day with her daycare provider.

All of the money raised will go towards two groups Philip and Erica believe are engaged in research that will lead to answers about MLD.  “It’s not that this is an impossible thing to figure out,” Erica said. “They just need funds and the interest.”

Many local businesses have stepped up to help sponsor the event, including Carbone’s, Cork Dork, and Nokomis Beach Coffee. Information about sponsorship and volunteer opportunities are available at chloesfight.org.

“Chloe has many fighters on her team,” stated Erica. “We feel like this world has been (and continues to be) filled with hundreds of people holding up their own small lights so that we can see our way over this dark, dark road of suffering. Without them I’m sure we would have fallen by now.” 

WHAT IS MLD?

MLD (metachromatic leukodystrophy) is an inherited metabolic disorder that appears in early childhood and results in the progressive demyelination (deterioration) of a child’s brain. This results in a slow progression of various debilitating symptoms from gross motor damage (ability to walk and move), respiratory failure, and seizures to blindness and loss of mental capacity and finally to death.

WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM THE 5K RUN?

All proceeds from the Chloe’s Fight 5k Family Run/Walk will go directly to the MLD foundation (a non-profit 501(c) (3) tax-exempt organization) and will be dedicated to two research projects: The project conducted by Dr Paul Orchard from the Inherited Metabolic and Storage Disease Bone Marrow Transplantation Program at the University of Minnesota and the project conducted by Brains4Brain at the European Task Force on Brain and Neurodegenerative Lysomal Storage Diseases.

WHAT FRIENDS CAN DO TO HELP

• Don’t avoid people who are struggling with a terminal illness or have lost a loved one. “That’s the worst thing you can do,” Erica said.

• Do spend time with them, even if it is uncomfortable for you. What meant the most to Erica was when friends started crying when they saw them. It helped “knowing they were entering into our grief,” she said. When a friend accompanied her during an excruciating blood draw, she told Erica, “This is the most horrible thing I’ve ever seen.” That honesty affirmed Erica’s own feelings.

• Don’t telling grieving parents that “everything happens for a reason.” “You tell me the reason a 2-year-old gets diagnosed with a terminal illness,” said Erica. If you don’t know what to say, it’s fine to say that. “I don’t know what to say either,” Erica responded. On the flip side, saying something is better than not saying anything.

• Do find a way to help.  Don’t just ask, “What can I do?” because someone in crisis won’t have an answer to that. Someone set up a Caring Bridge site for Chloe. Another created a meal schedule. One of Philip’s coworkers donated PTO (paid time off).

ERICA’S ADVICE TO OTHER PARENTS IN THEIR SHOES

• Decide ahead of time how you are going to handle the many decisions you’ll be faced with. Philip and Erica decided that they would go with whoever felt most strongly about something, and then they’d never point fingers afterwards.

• You are always going to be sad -- but that doesn’t mean you won’t also be happy. Learn how to accommodate both.

• Your child knows you love her despite the myriad of painful procedures you are “letting” her go through. “It is built into children to love you and trust you,” Erica said.

Cedar Towing moving to site on Snelling

Community questions whether zoning geared towards pedestrians is right for area

by Tesha M. Christensen, Longfellow/Nokomis Messenger

Cedar Towing & Auction will be moving to the Longfellow neighborhood once the company complies with various landscaping and site conditions. Company representatives hope to move into the Snelling Avenue location sometime in October, according to Minneapolis Senior City Planner Becca Farrar.

The proposal by this one business has widened into a larger discussion of whether the pedestrian-oriented overlay district in the area should be removed.

Cedar Towing is presently located at 359 Hoover Street in Minneapolis on property owned by Fulford Hoover Investments, LLC. It will be moving to 3516 and 3534 Snelling Ave., the property that formerly housed John’s Welding Service. This land is owned by Martin Kemp.

To facilitate the move to Snelling Ave., Cedar Towing asked the city to remove the pedestrian-oriented overlay on the property, which prohibited a towing company. It also asked for a conditional use permit and a variance of the off-street parking requirement. Instead of 16 off-street parking spaces, Cedar will provide four. The additional parking spaces were deemed unnecessary by the planning commission because of the short-term nature of Cedar Towing’s customers.

The city’s planning division recommended that the city deny Cedar Towing’s request as it does not match the city’s comprehensive plan. However, Planning Commission members approved it at the Aug. 29, 2011 meeting and it was subsequently approved by the City Council at its Sept. 2 meeting.

Council member and planning commissioner Gary Schiff explained, “The Planning Commission approved the site plan unanimously because in this economy, we need jobs more than we need vacant industrial buildings.”

He added, “The property is zoned industrial and the business meets the industrial zoning requirements. The Pedestrian Overlay district on this block was a mistake, and never should have been placed. Ten years ago, when light rail opened, city planners had dreams of residential high-rise living popping up all along Hiawatha Avenue and pushing out all the industrial uses. Ten years after light rail opened, we can see that not only have developers not built hi-rises, but the pedestrian overlay district has harmed small businesses.”

Dan Swenson owns Alexander’s Import Auto, which is located one block away from the Cedar Towing site and is the type of business prohibited in the pedestrian overlay district. But because of his work with Minnehaha-Hiawatha Community Works, Swenson finds himself on both sides of this issue. It’s further complicated by his desire to have a good relationship with his new neighbor. “It’s bigger than me just sitting in my chair every day,” he acknowledged.

He understands the intended goals behind the pedestrian overlay (PO) districts, which encompasses a half-mile circle around each light rail station. A pedestrian overlay supports businesses that are friendly to people biking or walking, Swenson noted, but do not include businesses geared towards motorists.

 “The intentions of a PO are well intended, but don’t fit in this area,” he said, largely because of the existing grain elevators and industrial traffic on a narrow Dight Ave. coupled with the lack of sidewalks and streetlights. “The grain elevators are going nowhere,” he said, “so we have to work around them.”

He supports a move to change the pedestrian overlay, in part because he would like to expand his own business. However, he also questions why the city didn't bend its rules in the past for other businesses that have been in the area for a long time, such as his own. When he met with city staff about expanding his business because the property next to his came up for sale, he was told that his request wouldn't be approved because of the pedestrian overlay and the broader goals for the area. 

The Minneapolis Planning Department intends to review the zoning in the Hiawatha Corridor in the next 18 months, noted Schiff. Community meetings will be part of the planning process, but no specific dates have been set yet.

Neighborhood concerns

A neighborhood meeting about Cedar Towing’s proposal was held on Aug. 25 at St. James A.M.E. Church. Citizens asked questions and gave some input on conditions they wanted to see attached to the conditional use permit and variance. “Neighbors had great suggestions for improving the property that became requirements for the business,” said Schiff.

Community members expressed concerns about whether the impound lot would generate crime, lower property values and increase noise and traffic.

Swenson pointed out there was a two-day notice for the meeting and only about seven community members attended. “I don’t think the community had a good chance for input,” he remarked.

According to Judy Nelson, who lives about four blocks from the Snelling site, the neighborhood meeting was useful “because it gave a chance for the Cedar Towing owner to demonstrate his family connection to the property and for the neighbors to get to know the owner and more about the business impact on the neighborhood.” She added that Cedar Towing “will be more likely to survive in these down times by moving to this property, which is already owned by a family member.”

Also, because of the meeting, landmark sculptures (such as the broken heart) will be preserved, Nelson observed. The sculptures on the site will be refurbished, if possible, as part of an overall project to improve the landscaping at the Snelling Avenue sight. A new fence will be installed and trees planted at various locations, including along Dight Ave. The giant crane on site will be dismantled.

“The decision by Cedar Towing to only use Dight Avenue for bringing cars onto the site seemed to allay most concerns by neighbors who attended the meeting,” observed Schiff, who organized the neighborhood meeting.

Cedar Towing will also work to change the official address of the property from Snelling to Dight, and remodel the building to include a front entry and parking area on Dight, according to Farrar.

Cedar Towing’s business operations include service tows, motor club towing/services, impound towing, jump starts, lock-outs, winching, tire changes and gas fills. Cedar Towing also provides snow plowing services, lot sweeping and a striping service. The business holds an Auto Lien Auction most Tuesdays at 11 a.m.

Cedar Towing declined to be interviewed for this story.

What is a Pedestrian-Oriented Overlay District?

The PO district is intended to preserve and encourage the pedestrian character of commercial areas and to promote street life and activity by regulating building orientation and by prohibiting certain high impact and automobile-oriented uses. To enhance the pedestrian experience, the ordinance requires building to provide amenities such as tables, seating and landscaping in the area between the building and the lot line.

The following uses are prohibited in the PO Overlay District:

• Drive-through facilities

•  Automobile services uses

• Transportation uses

• Self service storage

• Commercial parking lots, including the expansion of any existing commercial parking lot

• Conversion of any accessory parking lot to a commercial parking lot

People and butterflies connect at Minneapolis Monarch Festival

BY TESHA CHRISTENSEN, TC DAILY PLANET

September 13, 2011

People of all ages and backgrounds came together on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011 at the Monarch Festival on Lake Nokomis to share their love for the monarch butterfly.

That’s what Lis Young-Isebrand of the Monarch Lab at the University of Minnesota loves about this annual event.

“One of the best parts of the Monarch Festival for me is when I witness kids and adults becoming empowered to help the monarchs that they love. Many participants were surprised to learn that monarch larvae only eat milkweed and that they can grow this beautiful plant in their yards! They get excited and I am quite sure that many of them will increase monarch habitat,” said Young-Isebrand.

During the monarch tagging, Young-Isebrand encouraged participants to touch the butterfly. “People are so gentle and respectful,” she observed. “It seems a real connection between this small insect and people is made once they are allowed to touch them.”

“We had a great time,” noted Crystal Wood of Minneapolis after she and her daughter created a mudball containing a milkweed seed to plant in their own garden.

The 2011 stage line-up featured performances by Mariachi Mi Tierra, the Javier Trejo Trio (Mexican/Americana), Larry Long (American folk), the Tropical Zone Orchestra (salsa), KetzalCoatlicue (Aztec dance), Ballet Folklorico Mexico Azteca (traditional dance), Larrie Yazzie (Native American Fancy Dance) and Batak (fusion jazz).

“Our show promotes the mutual sharing between people beyond boundaries,” observed Pedro Fonseca of the Tropical Zone Orchestra. “If the ecosystems and small creatures work in harmony, we should be able to do so.”

There were numerous activities, including the Butterfly Fun Run, canoe tours of Lake Nokomis, and guided tours of the NatureScape. The steamroller operated by ArtOrg and Grupo Soap del Corazon, rolled over special print blocks created by kids to make individual butterfly artwork. Local vendors sold Hispanic and American food.

The festival is organized by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, the Nokomis East Neighborhood Association and Community Celebration of Place. Learn more at the bilingual web site: www.monarchfestival.org.

“The volunteers, participants and organizers all did a wonderful job celebrating and promoting conservation for the monarch.  Everything went smoothly and it is because of the hard work of the volunteers!” stated Young-Isebrand.

Copyright: 

 © 2011 Tesha M. Christensen

See photos @ HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/TCDAILYPLANET/SETS/72157627658567282/

See original news story @ http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/news/2011/09/13/people-and-butterflies-connect-minneapolis-monarch-festival

On the flip side

It's an odd thing for a reporter to be quoted in another person's story. In the last two months, it has happened to me twice, both for Star Tribune stories, and both for stories about arson.

The first one was about the arson at the Isanti County Historical Society where I served as Board President for five years. I still help out with their PR.

http://www.startribune.com/local/125314573.html

The second time occurred because I posted something on the e-Democracy.org site about witnessing the fire at a vacant church building along 42nd Street in Minneapolis. In addition to quoting me, the Strib also posted a link to a video I took of the fire.

http://www.startribune.com/local/minneapolis/129645998.html

Here is my video:

Fire destroys church building in Minneapolis, arson suspected

BY TESHA CHRISTENSEN, TC DAILY PLANET

September 12, 2011

Firefighters battled a suspected arson fire in a vacant church at  at 3115 42nd Street in Minneapolis in the early morning hours of Monday, September 12. The fire was reported shortly after 2 a.m. (Additional photos below.)

According to investigators at the scene, there were multiple areas where the fire started, pointing to arson.

The building was constructed in 1911 and housed several churches over the years, including Across Nations Church and Cedar Grove Missionary Baptist Church. Most recently it was a furniture store.

Power was shut off to neighboring properties at 3:30 a.m. and was back on by 10 a.m.

See printed story at http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/news/2011/09/12/fire-destroys-church-building-minneapolis-arson-suspected

Get close to monarchs during Lake Nokomis festival

Enjoy cross-cultural food, dance and games on Sept. 10

Send a monarch butterfly on its amazing journey from Minnesota to the mountains of Michoacan, Mexico during the Monarch Festival at Lake Nokomis on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2010.

“It doesn’t really matter who you are or where you come from, people find the monarch fascinating,” said Nokomis East Neighborhood Association (NENA) Executive Director Rita Ulrich.

The purpose of the Monarch Festival, according to Lis Young-Isebrand of the Monarch Lab at the University of Minnesota, “is to bring our diverse community of people together to celebrate and learn about monarchs.” 

She pointed out: “Adult monarchs weigh less than a paper clip (about half a gram), yet they are able to fly over 2,000 miles to Mexico in the fall and back to Texas in the early spring. And, they are beautiful! The monarch is simply amazing.”

In its third year, the Monarch Festival combines cross-cultural food, music, dance, habitat-awareness and dance. Events begin at 10 a.m. and continue through 4 p.m. on Sept. 10. Monarchs will be tagged and released throughout the day. The steamroller operated by ArtOrg will return; last year’s collage is on display in the Nokomis Recreation Center.

The Kid’s Butterfly Fun Run walk/race starts at 11 a.m. Participants are encouraged to wear butterfly wings, antennas or caterpillar costumes; prizes will be awarded for the best outfits.  Register online for $10 before the race at www.monarchfestival.org, or pay $15 the day of the race.

“It’s a lot of fun,” stated Mary Lynn Pulscher of the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation.

Pulscher encourages those in the neighborhood to bike or walk to the festival. A section of Lake Nokomis Parkway near 50th next to the Naturescape will be closed during the event. Over 5,000 people are expected.

More at www.monarchfestival.org

The festival is organized by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, the Nokomis East Neighborhood Association and Community Celebration of Place. Learn more at the bilingual web site: www.monarchfestival.org.

The 2011 stage line-up features performances by Mariachi Mi Tierra, the Javier Trejo Trio (Mexican/Americana), Larry Long (American folk), the Tropical Zone Orchestra (salsa), KetzalCoatlicue (Aztec dance), Ballet Folklorico Mexico Azteca (traditional dance), Larrie Yazzie (Native American Fancy Dance) and Batak (fusion jazz).

Pedro Fonseca of the Tropical Zone Orchestra is excited to again bring Latin rhythms to the festival. “Our show promotes the mutual sharing between people beyond boundaries,” Fonseca observed. “If the ecosystems and small creatures work in harmony, we should be able to do so.”

Strengthening the U.S./Mexican relationship

In addition to introducing attendees to Monarchs, the annual festival works to strengthen the relationship between Mexico and the United States. In the last decade, the number of Latinos residents in the Nokomis neighborhood has doubled, and this festival is a response to that, noted Ulrich. Signs at the festival will be in both Spanish and English, and organizers are looking for bilingual volunteers to staff games. To volunteer, call 612-724-5652.

The migration of the monarch is being threatened by loss of habitat in both the United States and Mexico, pointed out Ulrich. “It takes people growing milkweed and the various other native plants that support monarchs along the route,” she observed.

The upper midwest is an important region to the monarch because the milkweed that grows easily in the region sustains the summer breeding population, according to Young-Isebrand. But the monarch is only in the area for four months of every year. Young-Isebrand views the festival as a way to encourage attendees to consider other parts of the world that monarchs depend upon and to connect with other communities to preserve monarchs.

“In addition, the efforts we take to preserve monarchs are ultimately healthy for us, too -- not using pesticides, for example,” said Young-Isebrand. “I think people know this inherently and take action to save monarchs ultimately to improve habitat for all organisms, including humans.

Help preserve the monarch butterfly

Helping preserve monarchs for future generations is easy, according to Lis Young-Isebrand of the Monarch Lab.

“Monarch larvae will only eat milkweed, so if you want to help monarchs plant milkweed -- any species!” Young-Isebrand stated.

Other native plants provide necessary shelter and food (nectar) for the monarch. “Cultivated plants are often bred to have showy flowers and may not provide any nectar.  Plant native plants, along with the showy cultivated plants, and you will attract and help butterflies of many species,” said Young-Isebrand.

Refrain from treating gardens with insecticides because, as they are insects, the butterflies will also be killed.

Milkweed and other native plants will be for sale during the Monarch Festival. Or, make a milkweed mudball to take home.

Gardens along Lake Nokomis support Monarch butterflies

NENA practices what it preaches. In 1998, the Naturescape was established on the northeast side of Lake Nokomis. A steep hillside was transformed into a perennial garden that provides habitat for songbirds, butterflies and other insects.

The Naturescape was the direct result of community residents telling the neighborhood association they valued the environment during the creation of the Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) plan, noted Ulrich.

When you walk down to the Naturescape, you will see monarchs, stated Ulrich.

In 2001, a variety of aquatic, wet prairie and upload native vegetation was planted along the shoreline of Lake Nokomis. In September 2004, a native shrub garden was installed alongside the hillside prairie garden. Volunteer gardeners meet each Tuesday evening through the summer to maintain the Naturescape. To find out more, call the NENA office at 612-724-5256.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Migrating monarchs (adult monarchs in Minnesota at the end of August) will live for up to nine months while the summer monarchs (monarchs in Minnesota in early May through early August) will live for only six weeks. 

• Larvae (caterpillars) will only eat milkweed.

• Adult butterflies must have ample supply of native flowers to nectar from to make their 2,000-mile migration. 

• Pesticides kill butterflies along with the other unwanted insects (which then can kill birds, etc.). 

• Much about the monarch butterfly remains a mystery, even to the experts. “It is known that monarch use the sun and the earth’s magnetic field to migrate, but this doesn’t explain how they are able to migrate from a huge region (basically the entire eastern U.S.) to small areas in the mountains of Mexico,” pointed out Young-Isebrand. Help answer some questions by tagging monarchs and making a report whenever a tag is found. “This information allows scientists, and others, to track the migration route and success of monarch butterflies,” said Young-Isebrand. Learn more at www.monarchwatch.org.

- Information from Lis Young-Isebrand of the Monarch Lab

See original story printed at http://www.longfellownokomismessenger.com/mainstory.html

Falls 4 All working with Minneapolis to build a universal access playground

Peggy Halvorson believes that all kids -- handicapped or not -- should be able to play together at the playground.

After learning about universal access playgrounds, she decided to do what she could to bring one to Minneapolis. Towards that end she created Falls 4 All, a division of People for Parks.

“The more I’ve read about the benefits of these playgrounds, the more convinced I am that it just has to happen,” stated Halvorson, an Edina resident. “It’s not just a handicapped playground. It’s about everyone playing together. We learn to accept each other when we play together.”

The Minneapolis Park Board (MPRB) has agreed to install a universal access playground at the Wabun Picnic Area of Minnehaha Falls Park, adjacent to the Veteran’s Administration facility along the Mississippi bluffs. Recently, four accessible picnic shelters, a restroom building, and a zero-entry wading pool were constructed at Wabun to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. The parking lots were also updated, a disc golf course and volleyball court added and a bike/pedestrian trail built.

“As the MPRB upgrades playgrounds, it designs them to meet all current accessibility requirements established by the Americans with Disabilities Act. The funding raised by Falls 4 All will be used to increase the level of accessibility for children and adults,” said MPRB Superintendent Jayne Miller.

Because of Carly and kids like her

Why is Halvorson putting so much time and effort into a playground like this?

Halvorson is inspired by people like her childhood friend, Geri Mauck of Rosemount and her 15-year-old daughter, Carly.

It isn’t easy for Carly Mauck to spend the afternoon at a playground. While more and more are built to ADA specifications, her wheelchair still limits her.

It is too hard for her mom to carry the 15-year-old to the top of a slide. She certainly can’t push Carly’s wheelchair through gravel, sand or mulch. That leaves little for Carly to play on except for the ADA-approved bucket swing.

Carly loves swinging.

“The smile on her face says everything,” said her mother, Geri. “That kind of sensory input is fun for her.”

Overall, there aren’t many recreational opportunities for Carly, observed Mauck. “It would be nice to have a park in the area where she could go.

“For us it is gratifying to see her do something all the other kids can do. She’s free. She’s not strapped in. She’s out of a wheelchair.

“There’s so few things she can do independently.”

How does a universal access playground differ?

While ADA standards call for paths and ramps wheelchairs can traverse, universal access playgrounds go further.

They are designed so that children with disabilities can access at least 70% of the activities at the playground. This is done by making sure all ramps are wide enough for wheelchairs. Because of the additional on and off ramp access points, children with disabilities have the freedom of access without having to be transfered out of wheelchairs to use equipment. The surfacing is soft enough to cushion a fall. The various play elements all connect so that children with disabilities have more choices of where and how to play. Children with disabilities don’t have to only look up at these playgrounds, but can look out and down by going on the elevated components accessible via larger ramps and platforms.

Recognizing that transfers are the most difficult piece of any excursion, the designers of universal access playgrounds work to avoid them. For example at Jonathan’s Dream park in Conneticut there isn’t a sand box; instead there is a sand table that children in wheelchairs can wheel over to. Instead of a toy car with one or two steering wheels, there is a team limousine with eight wheels and room at the front for a driver in a wheelchair. Instead of the traditional bank of swings, there is a wooden boat swing large enough for two wheelchairs and six other people.

A playground for everyone

According to the 2000 Census, 9.2 percent of American families raising children in 2000 were raising at least one child aged five to 17 with a disability. Overall, there are over 54 million Americans -- or one in five -- with disabilities, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

“All Minneapolis children deserve a safe, supportive place to play, and the proposed Wabun playground helps to ensure more children will have that opportunity,” said Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak.

“The Park Board has committed $300,000 to the Wabun project and we’d like to raise an additional $700,000 to make this a true universal access playground,” said Halvorson. “The additional funds can provide items such as ramped wheelchair access to the highest platforms, specialized wheelchair-accessible playground surfacing, dual slides that allow a caregiver to slide with their child, and harnessed swings that hold children securely.”

According to Halvorson, the main challenge for Falls 4 All is funding. Thus far, the group has raised $70,000 of the $500,000 they need.

Several benefits are being planned, including Touch A Truck on Saturday, Sept. 17 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Minnehaha Park and a Food/Wine Gala for Friday, Nov. 4 at Sea Salt.

If enough money is raised, the playground will be built next year.

Public meetings will be scheduled for the playground renovation as part of the schematic design process.

Visit www.peopleforparks.net or www.falls4all.com for more information. Contact Peggy Halvorson at halvop2000@yahoo.com or 952-988-0085.

A universal access playground can provide:

• Opportunities for all children to benefit from social interaction and play: Children can learn cooperation, consideration and respect for differences and acceptable behavior while playing with children with disabilities. Children with disabilities can develop self-esteem and confidence and learn new skills as they are encouraged to explore and challenge themselves.

• Wheelchair-accessible surfacing soft enough to cushion a fall: This is relevant for both children and caregivers, including grandparents. This surfacing is one of the most effective ways to increase access, but can increase the surfacing expense by more than 20 times.

• Multiple entry and exit points to increase access to play equipment, with more on and off ramp access: These ramps give children with disabilities the freedom of access while affording them the dignity of not having to be transferred out of wheelchairs to access equipment.

• Additional routes/connections within the play structure using ramps to allow children with disabilities to flow through the playground equipment, giving them increased choices of where and how to play.

• Additional specialized equipment designed to provide more physical support.

• A playground structure with elevated components accessible via larger ramps and platforms, allowing children with disabilities the freedom to look out and down rather than looking up.

• An enhanced experience for children without disabilities because they gain use of interesting and unique equipment: These children enjoy the same kinds of activities as children with disabilities, just from a slightly different perspective.

Me Too

by Geri Mauck

You want to run and chase butterflies and birds.

Me too.

You want to climb the tallest trees and touch the clouds

Me too.

You want to jump rope and play tag.

Me too.

You want to splash in the puddles after a spring rain.

Me too.

You want to catch a snowflake on your tongue.

Me too.

You want to talk, and yell, and sing.

Me too.

But sometimes I can’t do these things because my mind or body is different than yours.

But I can still be you friend.

God loves...

Me too.

http://www.longfellownokomismessenger.com/sidestory1.html