Building Better
Playing with others builds confidence, creativity, health, and connection through the developmental years of childhood and into adulthood. But the power of play is only as inclusive as the environment, imaginations, and equipment involved.
Build to Include: An Endless Highway Inclusive Playground Initiative is founded on collaboration and crowdfunding. In partnership with town, city, and county leadership, and with the support of area residents, we work together to identify opportunities to build or remodel outdoor recreation environments with universal design and inclusion at the forefront.
THE vision
The first partnership and installation project of Build to Include begins in the Town of Greece, NY, through the initiative of eight-year-old Santii Patel, who loves to play outside at her local playground. One day, while swinging through the air, Santii noticed a girl who was not able play with her on the swings. She was using a wheelchair.
Santii was inspired to bring more adaptive equipment to the Town of Greece so that children in wheelchairs can “have fun and feel the wind in their hair.” So that they could all have fun, together. She started with hot cocoa stands and can drive fundraisers to raise money — gaining the support of town leadership, neighbors, and local first responders with every dollar earned. When Endless Highway heard about Santii’s dedication through a news story in January of 2020, we surprised her at school to let her know that Endless Highway would make this dream come true.
Build to Include commits to the fundraising, purchase, and installation of Rochester’s first We-Go-Round®. A $50,000 feat, the installation of the We-Go-Round® in June 2021 will accompany the recently announced community build of a fully inclusive play area at Basil Marella Park. From parking to restroom facilities, surfacing to play features, every corner of the new playground is designed for wheelchair accessibility and inclusive play for children, friends, and families of all abilities.
THE WE-GO-ROUND®
Standard playground infrastructure is often inaccessible to children with disabilities, especially those who use mobility devices such as wheelchairs, crutches, or walkers. Thanks to strides in disability awareness and accessible design, adaptive playground equipment now exists.
The We-Go-Round®, by Landscape Structures, is a unique merry-go-round structure featuring ground-level entry and wide openings for child and adult wheelchair navigation with seating, standing, and parking areas inside. Rooftop shade, center handholds, a built-in speed control mechanism, and easily wipeable surface materials provide additional safety for all participants. Once on board, everyone faces the center of the system, so that smiles, conversations, and laughter can easily be shared while in orbit.
The piece is not only accessible to those with and without disabilities, it is designed to inspire children, adults, and families of all abilities to play together.
LET’S MAKE IT HAPPEN
The first phase of Build to Include: An Endless Highway Inclusive Playground Initiative is on a mission to raise $50,000 to cover the costs of the We-Go-Round® purchase and installation, and additional small activity accessories. Check out our progress so far and get in on the action by donating during one of our ongoing community fundraising challenges. Your donation could be doubled!
You can help push us towards our goal by:
Donating. Make a one-time donation of your choice with the confidence that your gift will go directly to the purchase and installation of accessible, inclusive equipment.
Sharing the campaign. Help us get the word out about Build to Include by sharing the ready-for-you social posts, outreach, and graphics available at the toolkit below.
Pledging a match donation. Help us double the impact of donations and reach our goal faster by committing to a fundraising match of at least $1,000.
THANK YOU TO OUR MAJOR SPONSORS
VOLUNTEER sign-up – CLOSED
#BuildToInclude with us during Community Build Days. In partnership with the Town of Greece, we will be planning a series of community building days that invite community members, families, and company teams to get involved as volunteers. Roll up your sleeves and join us in some manual teamwork under the leadership of a professional installation crew, involving landscaping, organizing parts, constructing equipment, and more.
Let us know you are interested in volunteering by filling out the form below. We will reach out to you directly to share volunteer dates and discuss opportunities that fit best for you as an individual, company team, or family. Thank you!
Build to Include is a springboard for meaningful change within our Rochester communities and beyond. This initiative is a partnership, planning, and fundraising roadmap that we can and will duplicate to create more inclusive playgrounds throughout New York State. Get in touch to discuss project opportunities in your area.