by Dennis Dalman
An all-inclusive playground at Lions Community Park in Sartell will be welcomed not just by children with physical challenges but by their parents, their grandparents, their friends and their caregivers.
That’s the opinion of Cari L. Hansen whose 8-year-old son, Daniel, loves that park but who has difficulty accessing the playground features. His wheelchair often gets stuck in the sand.
Hansen is one of several parents and others who have given input into how the new playground can be designed to benefit children even with the most serious physical challenges. There will be 12 pieces of specially designed playground equipment at the playground, such as swings, a slide and a merry-go-round.
Daniel is the only child of Bret and Cari Hansen of Sartell, who are both special-education teachers in the St. Cloud School District. Their son was born prematurely with physical and cognitive disabilities and must use a walker and a wheelchair. Unable to talk, Daniel communicates well with a talking device.
“The all-inclusive park will be so much better!” Cari said. “We live very close to Lions Park and bring Daniel there, and sometimes his care nurses (will) bring him there.”
For Bret Hansen, Lions Community Park holds a special place in his heart. He grew up in Sartell and helped clear brush from the area near Pinecone Road and across from city hall. That is where the handicapped-accessible park was created by the Sartell Lions almost three decades ago.
An all-inclusive playground is one at which children who are physically challenged, including those in wheelchairs, can interact socially and play together on what will be a rubbery non-slip surface.
It will be designated as a regional playground park, meaning children from anywhere are welcome to play there.
“It will be so nice that parents and grandparents will find the park easier to use, too,” Cari said, “because right now they sometimes have a tough time navigating on the sand lot, especially when trying to help their children in walkers and wheelchairs. And improved safety will be so important, too. For everyone.”
Cari described Daniel as “a really happy boy who even though he has trouble communicating because of disabilities, is very, very smart.”
She praised the support from Sartell for both her son and for the park.
“The support we’ve received from Sartell has been just amazing,” she said. “As they say, it takes a village. Everybody seems to know Daniel and love him – teachers, the people at Coborn’s, the people at our church (Celebration Lutheran). They have all been so supportive of Daniel.”
Cari said the playground, when completed, will be a big improvement in so many ways for people of any and all abilities.
“Daniel will be able to bring his friends, his cousin and family,” she said. “He loves being around other people.”
Daniel Hansen of Sartell loves to swing and play at Lions Community Park in Sartell. He is the son of Cari L. and Bret Hansen. Cari said the family is thrilled the park will eventually have a regional all-inclusive playground, making the playground more accessible and safer for all park-goers.
