After much anticipation and three-years of planning, the Junior League of Reno and the City of Reno welcome the public to celebrate the opening of the region’s only universally accessible playground. Inspiration Station, located at Dick Taylor Park in Reno, will officially launch on Saturday, Oct. 20 during a grand opening ceremony at 2 p.m. Local dignitaries, Junior League of Reno leadership, the City of Reno and naming sponsor, the Caesars Entertainment will present at the ceremony.
“The opening of the new playground is a milestone for the community and we are excited to be part of such a remarkable project,” said Kristine Richter, president of Junior League of Reno. “Our League’s goal is to identify child and family welfare needs within the community and how we can help foster positive environments. The new playground is a testament to the dedication we have to seeing our community and children prosper.”
Inspiration Station at Dick Taylor Memorial Park in Reno has transformed over the last few months into a one-of-a-kind playground that meets all standards of the American Disabilities Act (ADA) and features special equipment that allows children and family members of all abilities to play together. The new playground was made possible by generous support from local organizations such as naming sponsor, the Caesars Entertainment, the City of Reno, Barrick Gold, Nell J. Redfield Foundation, NV Energy and Whole Foods.
“We continue to look for ways to enhance the learning and development of youth of all ages in our community and Inspiration Station will become the perfect outlet to do this,” said Julie Conway, director of Parks, Recreation, and Community Services at the City of Reno. “This is a unique project for our area and we are proud of the support northern Nevada has provided to make this playground a reality.”
In addition to fundraising and volunteer support, the northern Nevada community played a key role in bringing the project to life during the design phase of the playground. Community groups and organizations participated in various focus groups to contribute design and construction ideas which were incorporated into the final model of the playground. All children, with or without disabilities, will be able to enjoy themselves on playground equipment such as adaptive swings, accessible horizontal ladders and monkey bars with a variety of height bars, to name a few. The playground will also include special pour-in-place rubber surfacing that makes it easier for wheelchairs to move while providing additional safety for those who may not be steady on their feet.
“We take great pride in fostering a fun and safe environment for the communities we are in and the Inspiration Station is a great addition to our region,” said Terry Snodgrass, Junior League member and employee at Caesars Entertainment. “The new playground adds to the momentum our community has to making the region a better place to live, work and play.”
The Junior League of Reno has contributed to a better quality of life in northern Nevada by voluntarism efforts and developing projects that identify and meet the child and family welfare needs of our community. Current and past projects include Kids in the Kitchen, the Ronald McDonald House, the Discovery Room at Rancho San Rafael Regional Park, Safe Haven and the Washoe County Graffiti Van.
For more information about Junior League of Reno projects and to become a member, visit www.jlreno.org.
