Fun for All,
Richmond Park Project
Mitten Foundation, along with our community partners WGNO, City of Grand Rapids Parks, Friends of GR Parks, Lori’s Voice, and Happy People Hike will use our collective resources to bring equity to our neighbors. Please let us know how you might help us with this project for our Westside neighbors.
Our goal is to raise $50,000 for a poured-in-place rubber surface at Richmond Park. This necessary upgrade, along with the existing ADA features would make the park universally accessible for those of all abilities. In addition to grants, we are seeking financial partnerships from community leaders, businesses, clubs, organizations and major underwriters to help us to provide park features that serve all residents—regardless of ability—equitably.
Richmond Park is currently the only city park with ADA bathrooms and a zero-depth pool that are both ideal for those with mobility restrictions. But a universally accessible playground area would augment the existing features, making it truly barrier free. Not only is Kent County home to 8,922 children living with a range of disabilities, but through community engagement and polling our neighbors have expressed the need for these improvements.
The current plan for Richmond Park covered by the city millage includes building a brand new play area with a wood chip ground surface. Wood chips, while ADA compliant, can cause accessibility problems for children and adults requiring the use of mobility aids (like wheelchairs). However, a poured-in-place rubber surface almost completely removes that barrier and requires no maintenance (unlike wood chips, which must be replaced regularly).