Flagship Collaborative Play Place Open for Play
July 1, 2016
By: The Beacon
July 1, 2016
On Friday, July 1, the Flagship Collaborative Play Place in Lakeview Park, Port Clinton, was open for play. The playground is the only one in the area that is equipped to meet the needs of all children and the adults that care for them.
In the educational systems of Port Clinton City Schools and Danbury City Schools alone there are about 600 youth that have disabilities. Ottawa County also has the third highest senior population in Ohio. In the United States about 40% of a grandparents are child care providers. More and more adults with disabilities are parents and grandparents and would love to play with their children and grandchildren.
The Flagship Collaborative Play Place replaced old play equipment in Lakeview Park. Now all children can play together in the park.
“I didn’t think we would be here after 12 months,” said project coordinator Kassie Anderson at the opening on July 1. “Each day we watched the 200th RED HORSE take empty land and turn it into this. Tori (Thompson) is the reason we are here; she had the vision. Trish (McCartney) is the one who knows how to get things done and she did.”
“I am floored with this turn out,” project coordinator Tori Thompson said. “Looking back to the first meeting in 2014, I asked Port Clinton City Council “What is your utopia?” A utopia is a direction embracing everyone. This right here is my utopia.”
“I’ve seen a community who pulled together to bring people together to play. The people of Port Clinton made this their dream. Now that I see it’s a reality it brings me tears of joy,” said Thompson. “We are celebrating together today that all people can play together. We have created the highest vision of this park.”
At the opening project coordinator Trish McCartney accepted a check from Erin and Mary Lucas for $8500 which brought the project $4300 away from their $600,000 goal for the project. Nick Turner from Marcy Kaptur’s office attended and presented Flagship Collaborative Play Place committee members and 200th RED HORSE squadron members with American flags that flew over the Capitol Building.
Senator Randy Gardner also was in attendance. “I am always proud to be a senator of Ottawa County, but this doubles and triples that today,” said Gardner. “This celebrates what is right about Port Clinton and our community.”
Senator Gardner presented Colonel Stephan of the 200th RED HORSE squadron with a special award honoring him and his team for their work on the project. The RED HORSE were there every day working on the project.
“This is a great day and a great turnout,” said Port Clinton Mayor Hugh Wheeler, Jr. “I want to say thanks to the RED HORSE, to the council members and to the volunteers for their work on this project.”
Mayor Wheeler presented an Outstanding Service Award to the 200th RED HORSE Squadron and Make It Happen Awards to Kassie Anderson, Trish McCartney, Catharine Hadley, Tori Thompson and Mary Ann Snider for their work on the project.
For more information on the Flagship Collaborative Play Place visit flagshippc.org. The playground is located in Lakeview Park, 1100 Perry St., Port Clinton.