Delavan to build ability-inclusive playground in June

For Dusti Grenus, it started with swings, and wishing her local playground near Lake Geneva had some.

Her daughter, who is disabled, can’t use a regular swing set.

“At first, I was just looking to get some accessible swings into our local playground,” Grenus said. “But then I decided, let’s just go all the way.”

That was in 2015. She raised money, called law offices for advice on how to start a nonprofit, and then started one. About a decade later, she’s reached her goal.

The Never Say Never Playland will go up in Delavan’s Yadon Park in June, paid for by a combination of donations and public funds. The labor will come from a “community build” — 2,000 volunteers between June 2 and 8.

Brian Wilson, Delavan’s city administrator, says it’s a natural fit for the city in Walworth County.

“We have the state School for the Deaf here, and we’re always looking at ways to make our community more accessible to people that may have disabilities,” he said.

He said public events — Brick Street Days and Scarecrow Fest — always have ASL interpreters for children’s entertainment, and that it’s common in the courts and libraries as well.

“Those considerations have always been in mind, with everything we’ve done,” he said.

Grenus said the 13,000-square-foot Never Say Never Playland will have a soft turf surface, which is flat and protective against falls. It’ll have an accessible merry-go-round and slides that prevent static electricity, which can damage cochlear implants.

It’ll also have accessible swings, even to children in wheelchairs.

“They get locked in place, and they can finally swing, probably, for the first time ever,” Grenus said.

She said the playground is also meant for disabled adults who aren’t able to play with their children on regular playgrounds.

Wilson said that Grenus’ nonprofit will contribute at least $340,000 towards the playground’s construction, with the city chipping in between $319,000 and $350,000. He said Delavan plans to build a bathroom next to the playground after it’s built, funded by money originally allocated to other parks that Wilson said are a “lower priority” now.

Grenus called her collaboration with the City of Delavan “seamless.” She also said she’s “just thankful for all of our supporters.”

“Kids and adults with disabilities, they’re the same as us,” she said.

“They want to be loved, they want to play, they want to do everything the same that we do,” she added.

She said much of Never Say Never Playland’s outreach has been through social media. She encouraged watching its social media accounts for updates about volunteer slot sign-ups, as well as material and tool donations.