Siblings Georgia, 4 (left), and Thomas, 2, enjoy the new Dearborn Heights Van Houten Park Playscape Nov. 25 following the ribbon cutting ceremony.
By SUE SUCHYTA
Times-Herald Newspapers
HEIGHTS – Local officials held a ceremonial ribbon cutting Nov. 25 for a new accessible playscape at Van Houten Park funded by the Wayne County Parks millage and Community Block Grant funds.
The new playscape, which replaced an older wooden playscape that was dismantled last year, utilizes safer, high-tech materials and is accessible to people with disabilities.
The play area is also designed to appeal to children with physical and cognitive challenges, and is the first park in the city to be designed with those on the autistic spectrum in mind.
The ground surrounding the play structures is soft and cushiony, using recycled and shredded rubber. Among the special features are a culvert tunnel, a freestanding circular swing and a drum station.
Local officials hold a ceremonial ribbon cutting Nov. 25 during the opening of a new accessible playscape at Van Houten Park, funded by the Wayne County Parks Millage and the city’s Community Block Grant Program.
Wade Trim of Taylor provided the civil engineering aspects, with City Engineer Ali Dib serving as the project engineer and Parks and Recreation Director Kim Sower serving as project manager.
Sower said the Wayne County Parks Millage provided $118,407 for the project, with the city’s CDBG funds providing $1,287,886 for the park and $451,000 for the parking lot revitalization.
In additions to Sower, speakers at the playscape ribbon cutting included Mayor Bill Bazzi, former Wayne County Commissioner Diane Webb, who was involved with the project at its start, current Wayne County Commission David Knezek, and Wayne County Parks Director Alicia Bradford.
Sowers said former Mayor Lyle Van Houten hired her at the beginning of her career, so she is pleased to be able to revitalize the park named in his honor.
“This is a big shining star for Dearborn Heights,” she said. “We are going to have a grand opening when school lets out, and we are going to have a really nice event here.”
Dearborn Heights City Engineer Ali Dib (right) speaks Nov. 25 during the opening of a new accessible playscape at Van Houten Park, funded by the Wayne County Parks Millage and the city’s Community Block Grant Program, as Parks and Recreation Director Kim Sower listens.
Above and below, a new accessible playscape at Dearborn Height’s Van Houten Park, funded by the Wayne County Parks Millage and the city’s Community Block Grant Program, opens to the public Nov. 25 following a ribbon cutting ceremony.
Dearborn Heights Parks and Recreation Director Kim Sower speaks Nov. 25 during the opening of a new accessible playscape at Van Houten Park, funded by the Wayne County Parks Millage and the city’s Community Block Grant Program.