About 4% of American children have a mental or physical disabilities which translates to over 5 million young people. Two determined mothers and two boys with disabilities. $25,000 contest money. 8 years to fulfill a dream. These are the numbers. Here is the rest of the story.

Two mothers wanted a playground that their disabled boys could access. They won a contest prize through Kiwanis International that jump-started their fundraising. Through eight years of fundraising, donations and determination, the Project Inclusive Playground in the historic town of Ottawa, Illinois was completed at Lincoln-Douglas Park. The park has all handicap accessible equipment. The galvanized railings assist the children on ramps to access the equipment.

The galvanized railings will last for several decades. Kids will be kids, they will bang into the railing with sticks, bats and wheelchairs. Nothing looks worse than chipped paint, especially at a playground. The railings will survive midwestern winters. No need to close down the park to remove, replace, and re-do the railings. Even though the park was being planned for years, there is always a time crunch as projects near completion. The galvanizing was turned around in a few days giving the fabricator time to do his finishing work and install on time.

Those little boys, who are now high schoolers, and their mothers have created a legacy for generations with this all inclusive park. The galvanized railings are a part of the story, a story that should motivate others.