PORT WASHINGTON — For the last 11 years, Possibility Playground has been a place for kids of all abilities, a place where people with special needs could just be kids.
This week it is a construction site.
"It's interesting after this many years to get everybody back together and to see them excited," said Sue Mayer
Thanks to fundraising efforts and the generosity of others, volunteers returned to Possibility Playground to put in some new additions, like a merry go round for people in wheelchairs and a slide for kids with cochlear implants.
"On a regular plastic slide they would have too much static and that static would interfere with their cochlear implants. This allows them to enjoy a slide without having an uncomfortable feeling," said Mayer.
Mayer was one of the people who dreamed up Possibility Playground more than a decade ago.
Her son Sam was born with Down Syndrome. He also has a brain injury and a physical disability. She jumped on board the project after Sam's teacher Mardy McGarry approached her about it.
"To have a facility that you can come to and enjoy a day with your family and still be able to do everything you need to do for your special needs child is huge," said Mayer.
"It was easy to say yes to come back and help with the expansion," said John Binder, one of the build captains who supervised volunteers.
He hopes families who come back to the playground leave feeling joy.
Organizers plan on continuing their expansion every day this week, but they are in need of skilled workers comfortable around power tools.
If you want to help you can reach organizers at the Possibility Playground website.
