05.01.2008 - 














The Monroe County Access To Recreation Initiative
held its ceremonial groundbreaking on April 29, 2008 at
Karst Farm Park. Pictured from L-R: County
Commissioner Iris Kiesling, Community Foundation
President and CEO Shari Woodbury, County
Commissioner Joyce Poling, Aaron Smith, County Council
member Warren Henegar, County Parks and Recreation
Foundation President Farrell Duckworth and
County Council member Sophia Travis

The Monroe County Access to Recreation Initiative is helping to make Margie and Steve Rice’s dream come true.

The Rice’s oldest son, Alex, 13, suffered multiple strokes as an infant and has a developmental disability. As a result, Margie and Steve are strong advocates for fully inclusive opportunities. The couple supports a number of local disability service providers, and they also serve on the Indiana Governor’s Council on People and Disability.

Despite all of their outreach efforts, Margie says that a simple question from Alex reshaped their perspective on the issue.

As Margie prepared to travel to a Governor’s Council meeting last spring, she explained to Alex where she was headed. In order to effectively promote inclusive opportunities, she said, the Council needs input from parents of developmentally disabled children.

Appearing confused, Alex looked at his 3-year-old brother, David, who has not encountered any health issues or impairments. Alex then looked at Margie and asked, “Does David have a disability?”

“I was shocked,” Margie recalled. “It occurred to me that in his eyes, he is perfectly fine and does not have any disabilities. I thought to myself, ‘Who has the hang up?’

“It made me want to create a community where we can make disabilities disappear, if only even for a short time. Kids like him could play freely, without restriction.”

Starting next spring, a regional attraction at Karst Farm Park will help fulfill the Rices’ vision. The Karst Playscape will go beyond Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements to feature fully ramped, accessible play equipment and outdoor furniture on a rubberized surface. In addition, there will be a fully inclusive water spray park.

The Monroe County Access to Recreation Initiative partners – Monroe County Government, Monroe County Parks and Recreation, Options and the Community Foundation – broke ground on the Playscape on April 29. This marked the latest chapter in a story that began in the summer of 2006.

Options board member Leo Cook envisioned developing an inclusive recreation area. When he shared this idea with Monroe County Council member Sophia Travis, it proved to be perfect timing. The county had been looking for ways to enhance a 30-acre section of Karst Park.

Representatives from Options and Monroe County Parks and Recreation immediately began plans for the Playscape, and the Community Foundation joined the partnership in 2007. Together, they leveraged a $411,000 grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s Access to Recreation Initiative. The Access to Recreation Initiative offers community foundations throughout the Great Lakes Region an opportunity to partner with local parks and recreation providers, disability service providers and people with disabilities and their families to design and implement a recreational and social outlet for citizens of all ages and abilities.

The Monroe County grant is one of six such grants in the state of Indiana and 23 such grants in the Great Lakes Region. Kellogg has committed a total of $15 million to the program.

A key component of the Kellogg grant is the Monroe County Access to Recreation Initiative Endowment Fund at the Community Foundation. Kellogg offers a 1:1 match for the first $134,000 raised for the endowment. Thanks to generous donations from Options, the Monroe County Parks board and an anonymous donor, Monroe County has already met its match.

While meeting the minimum goal is a great start, Community Foundation President & CEO Shari Woodbury says that continued endowment support will pay significant dividends for Monroe County.

“It reflects a lasting commitment to inclusive recreation that benefits the whole community,” Woodbury says. “That’s whether endowment grants are for maintenance of the Playscape or other accessible recreational opportunities in Monroe County.”

Donating to the endowment is just one way citizens may get involved. Interested individuals may also contribute time, funds or building materials to the Monroe County Parks and Recreation Foundation, as they seek volunteer assistance to complete the Playscape build. The Access to Recreation Initiative will also hold a Community Build Weekend Sept. 12-14.

“If I had to summarize this initiative in a word, it is opportunity,” Margie Rice said. “It is an opportunity for everyone in the community to develop new friendships and partnerships. It is an opportunity to collaborate in an exciting new way to bring inclusive recreation here now and forever.”

For more information on the Karst Playscape, please contact Project Coordinator January Jones at 349-2800 or karstplayscape@yahoo.com. You can also refer to www.weallplay.org

Interested In Contributing To The Monroe County Access To Recreation Endowment? Please make checks payable to The Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County and mail the checks to 101 West Kirkwood, Suite 321, Bloomington, IN 47404. Please note in the memo that the check is directed to the Access to Recreation Endowment. Online donations are also accepted, and if you are interested in a stock gift, please contact the Community Foundation at 333-9016.

Interested In Becoming A Build Partner?
If you are interested in donating time, build materials or money to the building project, please contact January Jones at 349-2800 or karstplayscape@yahoo.com.