Tony Gamble, chair of Freedom Park in Plymouth, was the speaker at the last meeting of the Plymouth Lions Club. Gamble has been the owner of Mancino’s Grinders and Pizza for nine years and has two children with special needs. Freedom Park is located in Packard Woods and is a park where children of all abilities can play. Their mission is to build a playground where differences disappear and children share experiences with their peers, while exploring and learning at their own ability.
Phase one was completed in 2015 and phase two will include swing sets, a sound garden and a sensory garden. The cost is expected to be around $300,000. He added that $95,000 will be for swing sets which include a wheel chair swing. Phase three will be for a splash pad.
Three components of creating a high level of inclusive play are physical accessibility, age and developmentally appropriate and sensory stimulating activity. The design of Freedom Park incorporates a variety of solutions to accommodate all including age appropriate equipment that encourages physical and cognitive development, a multitude of environments which encourage social interaction of all users, sturdy structure and trees for light sensitivity, sensory garden, tactile changes and a splash pad that stimulates all of the senses, ramps and playground surfacing that promote physical accessibility around the site and seating and rest areas for children and guardians.
The Plymouth Lions Club proudly made a donation to Freedom Park and if you would like to make a donation visit freedomparkin.com.
The Plymouth Lions also received a thank you from the Indiana Lions Cancer Control Fund for their generous contribution. They added only with support will they be able to continue to prolong life, relieve pain, and provide hope to families, friends, and neighbors from Indiana and beyond.
Another letter of thanks came from the Indiana Lions Speech and Hearing for a donation. They provide free loaner hearing aids to individuals who are eligible under their low income guidelines.
In other business it was noted that the Leader Dog Program in Lions 25-G brought in $38,000. It was also noted that the Pancake and Sausage breakfast at the Farmers Market was also a success and we will plan for one each month next year, June, July, and August.
A special tribute was awarded to Lion Larry McCan. He received the highest award a club member can receive in their lifetime, the Melvin Jones Fellow Award. Larry began his tenure with the Lions Club in 1982 and became Secretary in 1984; he became a director in 1998. Larry was always active in the biggest fundraiser for the Lions Club, the pancake and sausage breakfast at the Blueberry Festival, White Cane Day, the promotion of the Lions mints, and helped build the Lions pavilion at the park just to name a few of the many wonderful projects he was a part of during his time as a Lion.
In addition, Lion Ken Lukenbill was presented with a special pin for his outstanding service on the membership committee for bringing many new members in to the club. If you or anyone you know would like to be a part of the Lions Club of Plymouth, please contact any Lions club member. The more members we have the more good work we can do for our community.
