I am writing this letter in an attempt to describe how impressed, pleased and grateful I am for our new inclusive playground designed by FIRST Playgrounds Inc.  Its completion has made an enormous difference to the lives of countless children and to our community.

            As a teacher of children with special needs, this initial phase of our new playground has already made, and continues to make, an incredible difference to the lives of my students each and every day. Before this playground was built, my students thought of recess as a time to withdraw to our classroom while their able bodied friends went out to play. Since the completion of phase 1, these same students spend every available minute they have playing with kids of all ages and all abilities. In fact, this playground has become synonymous with the word "outside"; whenever they ask to go outside, everyone knows that what they really means is, ”Can we go play on the new playground?".

         It is my opinion that phase 1 of this playground opened a new door for my students, but it is phase 2 of the playground project that will blow that same door right off its hinges.  Inclusive play will no longer be a word that adults bandy about; it will become a de facto reality in the daily lives of all of the children at the school and the community it belongs to.  I hope this letter instills even a small amount of understanding about the importance of the playground that has been completed, and the playground portion that is still to come.  I must sincerely thank the wonderful people who have so generously contributed their time, creative efforts, and resources towards play for all kids.