FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 2, 2023
CONTACT: G Cody QJ Goldberg, Harper’s Playground Co-Founder & Chief Play Officer, (503)730-5445, cody@harpersplayground.org
Deadline Extended to February 21 for Brick & Paver Purchases for Inclusive Park
Help build Marshall Park & leave your mark! Add your name, business or message to the park.
Vancouver, Washington – Harper's Playground continues to fundraise for the reimagined Chelsea Anderson Memorial Play Station (CHAMPS) at Marshall Park, and is less than $400,000 shy of its $3.2 million goal. The nonprofit seeks community support in the form of buying a recognition brick or paver.
Due to popular demand, the deadline for purchase has been extended to Tuesday, February 21. There's still time to make your name, business, message or quote a meaningful part of the park. Honor or memorialize a loved one. Inspire the next generation. Quantities are limited.
“We're thrilled with the community support received thus far, and look forward to the final funding coming in the form of personalized bricks & pavers. The space becomes so much more meaningful when community members own it and take part in it. The playground will be filled with special messages from people on these bricks & pavers.” —Harper’s Playground Co-Founder & Chief Play Officer G Cody QJ Goldberg
In partnership with the City of Vancouver and local firms Pence Contractors and AKS Engineering & Forestry, Harper's Playground is honored to lead the design and building of CHAMPS @ Marshall Park, which is currently under construction and halfway to completion. The project broke ground on July 11, 2022, at a community ceremony and is slated to open late spring of 2023, pending full funding.
The 53,143 square feet/1.22-acre playground addresses the City’s goal to expand accessible, public, outdoor play spaces. It will retain the Chelsea Anderson Memorial and honor and enhance the fire department theme throughout.
Explorable and accessible play areas will meet the social, emotional, and physical needs of people of all ages and abilities. Wheelchair accessible equipment, including the following elements, will foster intergenerational exchange and collaboration:
- Washington’s first wheelchair swing!
- The largest “Harper’s Hill” ever built with 360° views and seating at the top
- An Integration Carousel, or merry go round
- A Wheel Play Zone, or skate park
- An elevated sand area
- A bona fide fire engine with original interactive levers and buttons to play with
- A log fort, “Mobius Climber,” swings, musical instruments
- Smooth winding paths and sloping hills
- Custom bronze sculptures of native animals such as turtles and beavers
Including CHAMPS @ Marshall Park, Harper's Playground has a total of four projects in various stages in Vancouver, Washington. The organization serves as design consultant on a new inclusive playground at Esther Short Park—also opening this spring—and is currently assisting Vancouver Public Schools in building two playgrounds in its model.
Incorporated in 2012, Harper’s Playground, Inc. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit based in Portland, Oregon, which inspires vital communities by creating inviting playgrounds for people of ALL abilities. Founded in 2010 by local parents on a mission to create a more equitable world for their daughters, one of whom uses wheels to get around, the organization designed, funded, and built the original Harper’s Playground at Arbor Lodge Park in Portland, Ore.—the first inclusive, nature-infused play space in the region, now celebrating its tenth anniversary. Harper’s Playground has inspired, empowered, consulted or partnered to design and build playgrounds globally, including in Tokyo, Japan. For more information, visit harpersplayground.org, or connect on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
####