County donates land for
Boundless Playground
Middletown couple
hoping to raise $300K-$500K for equipment
MIDDLETOWN — Paul and Margo Hooker don’t think they’re dreaming big by having visions of disabled kids playing alongside their able-bodied peers. The Middletown couple believes it is not only an attainable goal, but part of an inalienable right to happiness.
This dream of universal play motivated the couple to first bring team sports to the physically challenged of Middletown. Once realized, that dream of equal play for all snowballed into a bigger pitch toward an even bigger goal — bringing the state’s first Boundless Playground for the disabled to the area.
Feeling blessed with three able-bodied children of their own and seeing that there were no organized team sports available, the Hookers created Middletown’s Challenged Youth Sports 10 years ago.
"What prompted us to start Challenged Youth Sports was the fact that there was no program in town for disabled youth," said Paul Hooker.
"We have able-bodied children ourselves and thought it was terribly unfair that these kids weren’t afforded the same opportunities for recreation (as our own)."
A former president of the Lincroft Little League, Paul Hooker set out to set up disabled teams.
He first started a baseball little league. Then, with the help of able-bodied students, the Lincroft Soccer Club and Middletown Parks and Recreation, he added soccer, tennis and basketball to the sports available for disabled kids ages 7 and up. There are now 75 kids enrolled in each sport.
After watching Challenged Youth Sports hit a home run in the hearts of the physically challenged, Hooker knew there was more to do. In taking a second look around, he realized that there wasn’t any sort of playground in the area built for disabled kids’ enjoyment, so he did a little research and found an organization that built such parks all over the country. The organization was Boundless Playgrounds based in Bloomfield, Conn.
The Boundless Playground philosophy is that, ideally, no disabled child should be more than one hour away from a playground. "This type of playground is the perfect solution for disabled kids. Even the ADA [Americans with Disabilities Act]-compliant playgrounds aren’t wheelchair accessible. These playgrounds are ramped and built for sensory perception."
Hooker contacted Boundless Playground representatives in November of 1999. Equipped with the necessary background information, he went to the Monmouth County Park System the following February to pitch the idea of creating the first Boundless Playground in the state in Monmouth County. Hooker met with county Board of Recreation Commissioner and former Middletown Mayor Tony Muscella, who liked the idea and did a little nudging to get it on the county’s agenda.
That same month, the county commissioners agreed to dedicate a one-acre site in Dorbrook Park, Route 537, Colts Neck, for use as a Boundless Playground.
"The Monmouth County Park System is very appreciative of the nonprofit Challenged Youth Sports group for their efforts in putting together funding to make such a playground possible. It will give all children an equal play opportunity, and all children need to play," said Laura Kirkpatrick, system public information officer.
The Boundless Playground program works on the premise that if the land is given for the project and funds are raised for building the structures, program officials will lend their professional design and organizational expertise to guide the project through to completion.
Now the Hookers and any volunteers willing to share their expertise are working toward seeing the playground erected as soon as possible, and that means raising an estimated $300,000 to $500,000. "It’s a great deal," said Paul Hooker. "It’s a lot of money to raise, but we can do it. Boundless Playgrounds says, ‘Get a site donated and raise the money; we’ll do the rest.’ It’s a very organized process, though, which we’re grateful for."
On Dec. 10, a cross-section of 30 to 40 volunteers representing the community showed up at the group’s first strategy meeting at St. Leo’s School in Lincroft. Heading the meeting was Jean Schappet, director of design for Boundless Playgrounds. This initial meeting was a brainstorming session referred to as a "values and outcomes meeting." In the two-hour collective give-and-take gathering, those in attendance flushed out ideas of what they’d like to see in the park.
Schappet asked that each person hand in a list of their 10 most desired park fixtures. According to Hooker, from the separate lists a list of 75 items was compiled. Schappet will now send a report, called a "playground matrix," to Hooker’s volunteer group. The matrix will recap what the group decided.
Step two will be to have a drawing and design party in the near future. Able-bodied and disabled kids will take an active part in this meeting at which Schappet will provide them with all the art tools they need to draw ideas to their heart’s content. The ideas will be integrated into the playground plans. It’s Boundless Playground’s way of ascertaining that the park truly captures the spirit of play for all.
As for Paul Hooker, he couldn’t be happier because before long, every kid in the area will be afforded what he says should be a given — equal play on equal grounds.
For more information about the Boundless Playground project, call Paul Hooker at (732) 957-0527.