Over 300 Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin employees join in building accessible playground in New Berlin
More than 300 Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin employees will trade in their computers and pagers for hard hats and hammers as they help the City of New Berlin and the New Berlin Junior Woman’s Club build an accessible, all-inclusive playground at Malone Park.
“Children’s Hospital is committed to building a strong community with resources for all. A vital part of childhood is being able to be outside and play, and the playground at Malone Park offers kids of all ages and abilities the chance to do just that,” said Mark Rakowski, vice president of Children’s Community Health Plan. “We have been looking for an opportunity for our staff to get involved in a project that will help foster teamwork and give back to the communities that support us. This playground is a shining example of our belief that kids deserve the best and our vision that the children in Wisconsin will be the healthiest in the country.”
WHEN: The playground will be built Monday, May 16 through Sunday, May 22 with three, four-hour shifts each day, beginning at 8:00 a.m. Children’s Hospital employees will be on site for four-hour shifts between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. from Tuesday, May 17 through Friday, May 20.
WHO: Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin employees will join over 2,000 volunteers to help build an all-accessible playground at Malone Park in New Berlin
WHAT: The playground will be a 9,000 square foot barrier-free, ADA accessible playground and offer side by side play for children of all ages and abilities, parents and grandparents. It will feature wide ramps to accommodate wheelchairs and walkers; braille, sign language, musical and sensory activity panels; stainless steel slides that children with cochlear implants can use; a variety of adaptive swings and a wheelchair accessible merry-go-round.
WHY: To give all kids a chance to play together.
WHERE: Malone Park 3805 S. Casper Dr. New Berlin
**Media interviews available upon request.**
About Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin
Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin is the region’s only independent health care system dedicated solely to the health and well-being of children. The hospital, with locations in Milwaukee and Neenah, Wisconsin, is recognized as one of the leading pediatric health care centers in the United States. It is ranked in nine specialty areas in U.S. News & World Report’s 2015-16 Best Children’s Hospitals report. Children’s provides primary care, specialty care, urgent care, emergency care, community health services, foster and adoption services, child and family counseling, child advocacy services and family resource centers. In 2014, Children’s invested more than $102 million in the community to improve the health status of children through medical care, advocacy, education and pediatric medical research. Children’s achieves its mission in part through donations from individuals, corporations and foundations and is proud to be a member of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. For more information, visit chw.org.
