G-Syndicate performing one of their a capella hits during the Rotary Club of Barbados South’s fund-raising concert entitled ‘Caribbean Excellence’ last Saturday night at the Frank Collymore Hall.
ONCE everything goes according to plan, the Inclusive Play project, a playground for persons with disabilities, is expected to be completed within six to eight months.
This is according to President of the Rotary Club of Barbados South, Trevor Sealy, who spoke to The Barbados Advocate after the first half of the fund-raising concert, entitled ‘Caribbean Excellence’, which was held for this initiative on Saturday night at the Frank Collymore Hall.
“Completion would be finished within six to eight months of the start date, but the start date is dependent on certain things being put in place. When we have the documentation in hand, we would be able to speak to that, but we would love to be able to start within the next few months.”
He said that they already have all of the equipment in place and what they are waiting on now is for some final documentation and other things to be finalised.
“We have all of the equipment already. Right now we are working on the lease because it is a lease by the Government to the Rotary Club, so all of that documentation has to be in place first. However the equipment is already here, so we just have to put up the physical plant, which is the building, the structure and so on. That should not take more than six to eight months to complete. Once we can break ground, no more than six to eight months.”
This facility will be located at the Garfield Sobers Gymnasium, Sealy continued. “It started about four years ago. It is a play park for the differently-abled people; those who are both physically and mentally challenged. It will be located at the Wildey Gymnasium Complex in that area. So it is a work in progress. We are just waiting on the regulatory stuff to be finished and we should be able to start.”
He said that he is not sure about the exact square footage, but it will be big enough to accommodate what they are aiming to do with this play park.
“It will be indoors and outdoors. There will be some office space; there will be some bathroom facilities and that sort of thing, but it is basically an outdoor facility. I am not sure as to the square footage, but it will be enough to support what we want to do – things that are specific in design for differently-abled people because you know you cannot have a regular swing [for example] because those who are physically disabled will not be able to use one. So the equipment is specifically designed with that in mind.”
The Rotary South President stated that they still need support and this support can be financial. He also encouraged persons to lend a hand, especially if they have a family member, friend or just know someone who is differently-abled.
He added that they decided to target this group because there are already play parks for able-bodied persons, but none for the differently-abled people. The play park will be managed by qualified staff and it will be open seven days a week.