Welcome to Rachel’s Kids newest project, the Park of Hope. As you will see, it is so much more than a place for all ages and abilities to play, learn and have fun…. It is a beacon of unity, recognizing and supporting every child’s right to play and strengthening our community through accessible and inclusive recreation. Additionally, it serves as a resource for local therapists and other support workers, teaches inclusion and acceptance and encourages people of all ages to play together. The Park of Hope is about what is possible when a community comes together to turn a dream into a reality.
The Park of Hope was inspired by our founder Dr Rachel Navaneelan who wanted to create a welcoming space for people to gather, have fun and experience a profound sense of belonging. It provides a barrier-free environment which through its many unique features, such as universally designed sensory rich play equipment and rubberized surfacing, removes a variety of challenges that many people face at traditional parks. We thank the City of Cornwall for collaborating with us and providing the physical space for which the Park was built, and for our friendly and knowledgeable playground equipment providers at New World Park Solutions.
The Board of Directors for Rachel’s Kids and supportive community members have spent the past 12 months fundraising the $650,000 required for Phase 1 of this transformative initiative.
The project has moved from dream to reality because of the many organizations, individuals, families, schools and businesses who have provided financial support and valuable guidance. As our founder fondly remarked, “It took a village!”. Please take a moment to view the listing of these sponsors and when the opportunity presents itself, thank them for their valued support. Proudly, The Park of Hope has been certified by the Let Kids Play organization as an Accessible and Inclusive play space.
Another $350,000 of fundraising is required to complete this wonderful project next spring/summer. Still to come is a 360 NEO’s interactive electronic game, a 5 station/120 exercise workout park, a Quito Rope Climber, and a 4-person wide Mighty Descent Slide.
We invite you to return often, spread the word, and help grow our village by supporting our Phase 2 efforts.
Ode to the Park of Hope
Rachel’s Kids and the City of Cornwall cared a whole awful lot
And something got better starting with this fabulous spot
We have provided you with a place to gather and have tons of fun
Built for children of all abilities, a special place for everyone
Welcome to the Park of Hope, we hope you have a good time
You’re invited to explore all the equipment and to try the zip line
You can spin, you can slide, you can swing, you can sway
You can even cool off in the splash pad on a hot summer’s day
There are sensory elements that help build connections in your brain
And a cozy dome to curl up in when your energy starts to drain
You can let your spirits soar and leave your worries behind
There are plenty of opportunities here for you to relax and unwind
You can bring a picnic lunch and find yourselves some shade
And spend the whole day here until the sun starts to fade
You can explore the many ways to play a musical tune
Or climb high on the structures and howl at the moon
You can laugh and you can sing, and let your imagination run wild
We’ve acknowledged that play is the right of every child
We hope you’ll make new friends here, practice acceptance and be inclusive
This wonderful play space was certainly built for this to be conducive.
Thank you to our generous sponsors and our wise contributors too
We are ever so grateful that you came together, to help us make this dream come true.
Sharon Miller