All Kids Play Foundation Of Corkscrew Community Inc

To provide a place where a child with sensory, developmental or physical disability can play right alongside a fully able child, exploring, creating, dreaming and having fun. By designing an area that is barrier- free and socially inviting, we can build strong kids, strong families and make a strong community even stronger.

This project started as a grassroots effort from a few parents with children at Corkscrew Elementary School. These parents formed All Kids Play Foundation of Corkscrew Community, Inc. in March 2007 to coordinate the fundraising of this major undertaking.

All Kids Play Foundation of Corkscrew Community, Inc. now consists of a diverse board of parents, educators and community members. It pursues grants, sponsors and business partners. It also participates in community events promoting education and raising awareness of inclusive play. A Boundless Playground is accessible for children with and without disabilities, where all children can play together without boundaries. Currently, only ten Boundless Playgrounds exist in the state of Florida. The closest Boundless Playgrounds to Collier County are in the cities of St. Petersburg and Hollywood, Florida. That is quite a distance.

The three elementary schools in the Corkscrew Community serve 2,685 students and 449 of them have some form of disability. The playgrounds at these locations are not accessible, making it impossible for all children to participate in playground activities with their peers. The closest accessible playground to the area, located at Max Hasse Collier County Park, is at least 20 minutes away. A local Boundless Playground would foster community involvement and make a difference to children of all abilities.

AKPF of CC promotes inclusionary play opportunities for children with disabilities through the development of accessible play spaces. None of the board members receive any form of compensation. The current project is to build a Boundless Playground in the Corkscrew Community. The geographic area incorporates the schools of Corkscrew, Estates and Sabal Palm Elementary Schools. These three schools serve a large geographic area east of Collier Blvd. The focus of AKPF of CC is on children with disabilities but this playground will serve the entire community of children of with 16 percent having a disability, 37 percent being economically needy and 42 percent non-English speaking.