Ali's Boundless Playground

It’s Ali Karpenko’s dream to have a community playground that is accessible to children with disabilities. Ali is 14 years old, and was born with a mild case of Spina Bifida. “I am very blessed, as I have a very mild case of it. Many of the problems I face are hidden to most, as I am very physically able. I did not begin the playground project for myself.  I’m doing it for the kids like me who have a disability, but aren’t as lucky as I am.” Boundless Playgrounds are tailor-made for the way children are naturally drawn to play. They are universally accessible so everyone can play side by side at his or her own highest level of ability. In November of 2006, Ali entered the “Win a Boundless Playground Essay Contest”; sponsored by Hasbro, Playskool, GameTime, and Boundless Playgrounds. The grand prize was a $300,000 all-accessible Boundless Playground. Ali nominated her hometown of Grand Forks. In January of 2007, Boundless Playgrounds notified Ali that she was one of the top 20 finalists out of 930 entries, from 44 states. In mid- April, the grand prize winner was announced. An essay submitted jointly by a 3^rd grade teacher and a mother was chosen. For being a finalist, the equipment company is offering Ali and the community a discount on the playground equipment. It is the chance of a lifetime for our city. Our goal now is to raise $200,000. The Grand Forks Park District has donated land in Sertoma Park and will assist in the construction and on-going maintenance of the playground. Two local organizations, Grand Forks Sertoma Club and The Arc, Upper Valley have teamed up to assist Ali in her marketing and fundraising efforts which will include soliciting donations from local residents and businesses. The project also has the support of Grand Forks Mayor Mike Brown. So far, Ali and the committee have raised over $130,000. Enough cannot be said about the wonderful people who are working so hard on this playground. Ali says she never could have gotten this far without all the amazing people and organizations that are helping her. Building of Ali’s Boundless Playground is set for the end of September. The plan is to build in 2 phases. Phase 1 next month, then Phase 2 in the spring. Phase 2 will almost double the size of the playground!! “I think every kid should be able to have fun and feel like they belong,” says Ali. “It would be nice to have a place where kids with disabilities and their siblings could have fun together.”

 

 

 

To read more about Ali and her Boundless Playground Project, visit gfsertoma.com

 

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