The Rotary Club of Round Rock Sunrise recently donated $50,000 to the Play for All Foundation to support the ongoing efforts to maintain and expand the Play for All Playground.
Now in their 11th decade of service, Rotary Club of Round Rock Sunrise community leaders are devoted to making a difference and improving the quality of life for those who suffer from hearing loss in communities. Representatives from the local Rotary Club of Round Rock Sunrise group presented a check to the Play for All Foundation and the City of Round Rock Parks and Recreation Department at their recent board meeting.
The Rotary Club of Round Rock Sunrise organization has been one of the largest and most dedicated supporters of the Play for All Abilities Park, being involved in all previous phases of the park’s development, and of the Round Rock Parks and Recreation Department. During the original developmental phase of the park, the Round Rock Service coalition, which included Rotary Club of Round Rock Sunrise, were vital in garnering support for the project. This was imperative to the creation of the park because, at that time, not many people fully understood the concept and purpose of the Play for All Abilities Park or what its creation would ultimately come to mean to the community. The support of the Rotary Club of Round Rock Sunrise was vital in communicating the vision of the park to the people of Round Rock.
After construction of the first phase of the park was complete, Rotary Club of Round Rock Sunrise took it upon themselves to hold an annual fundraising event, the Reindeer Run, with proceeds being dedicated to the ongoing maintenance needs of the park. This event lasted several years and was able to raise a sizable amount of money, all of which was donated to the Play for All Foundation. Though the Reindeer Run event no longer takes place, Rotary Club of Round Rock Sunrise continued their support the park through a donation made during the second phase of the park’s construction. Now they are, again, donating money to the foundation to continue supporting the ongoing maintenance and expansion of the park.
The History of the Play for All Abilities Park
In the late 1980s, 9 acres of property were donated by Virg and Nancy Rabb to the City of Round Rock for use as a city park. This park came to be called the Rabb Park and was operated by The Parks and Recreation Department for the next 20+ years before the 2010 flood damaged the site.
Prior to the 2010 flood, the City of Round Rock was approached by citizens Kenneth and Dennis Seymore to consider applying for a Boundless Playground Outdoor Grant. Though the City wasn’t awarded the grant, the City Council realized there was a need for a universally accessible park. A few years later the city was approached by Marge Tripp and the Rotary Club of Round Rock Sunrise about installing an adaptive swing for children with autism.
With the need to re-develop the park after the 2010 flood and these two requests from the Round Rock community, the city began developing a park plan that would provide all children, regardless of ability, with the opportunity to play and develop skills in a fun and safe outdoor environment.
This project grew to become a community wide effort, with members of local civic clubs joining forces to form the Play for All Committee and a non-profit foundation, which was aptly named the Play for all Foundation. A Design Task Force was also formed which included professionals and parents familiar with working with children with special needs to ensure the design would be able to meet the diverse needs of all children.
On March 3rd, 2012, after 5 years of planning and development, the Play for All Abilities Park opened with a community-wide celebration. The Play for All Abilities Park quickly became the most used playground in Round Rock, and one of the most used in the state of Texas. The popularity led to an expansion project in 2016, that was concluded a year later, that nearly tripled the size of the original park.
For more information about the Play for All Abilities Park, visit play4all.org
For more information about the Rotary Club of Round Rock Sunrise, visit rotaryroundrock-sunrise.com
