City group wants no child left behind at local playgrounds

YOUNGSTOWN — When two educational assistants learned that children in their Medically Fragile Preschool Unit at McGuffey Elementary can’t use typical playground equipment found in city parks, they knew what they had to do: Build a playground.

What started as an idea by Deborah Duffy and Kim Rupe, both North Side residents, quickly grew into a plan and then a project they hope to have completed in Wick Park by the end of 2009.

They haven’t finalized the cost yet but said they’re looking to raise about $250,000 to fund the effort.

Duffy said they came up with the idea last fall when a couple of mothers of children in their class told them that they can take their disabled children to city playgrounds, but the children can’t play on the equipment. It’s not adapted for their use.

The two are clearly passionate about their work and what they intend to do.

“This is our city. These are our children. We want it for them. We want a place for them to go, a family place,” Duffy said.

“We’re looking at it through the kids’ eyes,” Rupe said. “We work with them every day. We know what they can do, we know what they can’t do.”

“It means so much to us to see our kids get to do these things. It’s important for their parents too,” Duffy added.

“Family involvement, community involvement are important to us,” Rupe said.

They approached McGuffey Principal Rachael Smith, who said she was behind the plan immediately.

The three enlisted the support of some other faculty and parents and formed “Wee Can Move, Too” — a name that reflects the children they intend to serve. They’re in the process of getting it recognized as a nonprofit organization by the IRS.

Rupe said they’ve targeted Wick Park as the proposed site of a playground that will have equipment that disabled children, even those who use wheelchairs, will be able to use, right along with children who have no disabilities. The playground will be open to everyone.

Read the full story Monday in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com.