Rotarians learn about Can-Do Playground

At the April 29 meeting of the Lewes-Rehoboth Rotary Club, Mike Kazala, Rotarian and general manager of Delmarva Broadcasting, discussed the efforts underway to develop the Can-Do Playground in Milford. The playground is designed for children of all abilities and will be the second on the Delmarva Peninsula.

Kazala noted that one in 20 people will experience a disability in their lifetime, and that playgrounds are laboratories for children's development, aiding the construction of neurological platforms. With several thousand children with a physical, cognitive, or sensory disability that prevents them from using conventional playgrounds, the goal of the Can-Do Playground is to be accessible to all by allowing unique access for children to all facilities.

To date, $700,000 of the $850,000 needed for the playground has been raised. This includes funds from Rotary District 7630 Area 4 Clubs, $125,000 from DNREC, and $14,500 raised from a Tidewater Utilities golf tournament.

New Castle County Rotary Clubs offered to provide a $10,000 match if Kent and Sussex clubs could raise $30,000. Since January 2012, $17,000 has been raised.

The playground is also seeking members to join the Can-Do Committee, which meets the second Wednesday of the month at 5:00 p.m. at the Delaware Hospice in Milford, adjacent to the playground.

The project has been five years in the making. Plans have been approved by the Kent Soil Conservation District, and equipment has been purchased. The committee is about to put excavation, concrete, and asphalt out to bid. They hope to start construction in the beginning of June and to be operational by Labor Day.