A new wheelchair accessible swing is now available for use in Tilbury Memorial Park.
The addition of the Jambette Wheelchair Accessible Swing was made possible through a collaboration between the Tilbury Rotary Club, the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, and generous donations from community groups, Municipal officials say.
The Jambette Wheelchair Accessible Swing allows people who use a wheelchair, or those who require extra support, to enjoy the playground alongside friends and family. Jambette is a Canadian company, and the Wheelchair Accessible Swing is manufactured in Canada.
“The Tilbury Rotary Club is committed to serving all residents in our community. This swing demonstrates our belief that every child deserves an opportunity to find joy with play, and we’re thrilled to have been able to work alongside the Municipality of Chatham-Kent and those that made generous donations to make this a reality,” said Barry White, Tilbury Rotary Club Co-President, in a media release.
“Recreational accessibility is not just important, it’s a necessity. Knowing that even one child gets to participate in activities with his/her peers is all the ‘needs assessment’ I require to support it,” said Lauren Anderson, Ward 1 Councillor, in a media release.
“It was an honour to be at the grand opening of the Accessible Swing and heartwarming to see River enjoy the swing. Much gratitude to the Rotary Club of Tilbury and the other community partners that made this happen.”
Further work will be done to the park to create a paved path that leads directly to the swing, further enhancing the accessibility.
The swing features instructional material attached to the frame that provides the user with a step-by-step guide on how to operate the swing.
“This swing is an excellent addition to our park and wouldn’t be possible without the great work of Rotary and their partners,” said Ian Clark, Manager of Parks, Recreation and Cemeteries, in a press release.
“We’ve already received calls from other municipalities asking how they can get something like this installed in their areas.”
