Chloe’s Sunshine Park opens in time for Mother’s Day
Oby Bennett kisses his daughter Chloe and reassures her prior to the dedication ceremony Saturday in Syracuse of Chloe's Sunshine Playground. (DENNIS MONTGOMERY/Special to the Standard-Examiner)
Four year old Lily Headley enjoys one of the special swings at Chloe's Sunshine Playground in Syracuse on Saturday. The playground is specially constructed to allow children with disabilities to enjoy all the things that they cannot do at a regular playground, such as swinging unaccompanied. (DENNIS MONTGOMERY/Special to the Standard-Examiner)
Children from the Utah School for the Deaf and Blind choir sing Happy Birthday to Chloe Bennett (seated) at the dedication ceremony of Chloe's Sunshine Playground on Saturday in Syracuse. (DENNIS MONTGOMERY/Special to the Standard-Examiner)
Chloe Bennett, (DENNIS MONTGOMERY/Special to the Standard-Examiner)
The archway which marks the entrance to Chloe's Sunshine Playground, a playground for children with disabilities, which was dedicated in Syracuse on Saturday. (DENNIS MONTGOMERY/Special to the Standard-Examiner)
Chloe Bennett shares a moment with her grandfather before he serenaded her and the audience at Saturday's dedication of Chloe's Sunshine Playground in Syracuse. (DENNIS MONTGOMERY/Special to the Standard-Examiner)
SYRACUSE — An 80 percent chance of rain did not stop mothers from bringing their children to the grand opening of Chloe’s Sunshine Playground.
Children in coats impatiently waited for speakers to finish their orientations so they could get into the playground that has been the dream of Tara Bennett’s for the past six years. The playground is located inside Centennial Park, 1800 S. 2000 West, Syracuse.
The former Syracuse resident decided when her daughter Chloe was 2 years old a playground for children with disabilities was needed in the area. And with just a dream, she pitched her idea to the Syracuse City Council, businesses and to anyone else who would listen. Bennett said Cindy Gooch, a grant writer, and Ben Liegert and Kresta Robinson, city employees, were instrumental in helping the playground become a reality.
Saturday’s grand opening was also a birthday celebration for Chloe, who turned 8. The small girl squealed and laughed loudly when her classmates sang “The Rainbow Song,” and also when her grandfather, Braden Mann of Syracuse, and those in attendance, sang “Happy Birthday.”
Chloe, her mom, her father, Oby Bennett, and Mayor Terry Palmer cut the yellow ribbons, allowing approximately 100 children of all ages and all abilities to enter the playground so they could swing, slide and climb. Chloe also could not contain her excitement when she was finally able to swing next to her 18-month-old brother Sam. She has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy and West syndrome and uses a wheelchair.
The playground is also a dream come true for other parents who have children diagnosed with disabilities.
Several parents hugged and thanked the Bennetts, who now live in South Ogden.
Danielle Bennett, who is not related, with tears running down her face, said, “I”m so excited for this. I’ve waited so long for this park.”
Her 5-year-old daughter, Lily, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, could not attend Saturday’s event because she was ill.
Danielle Bennett said she moved three blocks from the playground just a few years ago, without realizing what was being built there. She had heard about similar playgrounds but had never seen one designed for children with disabilities.
“What this means to me as a mom, it means my daughter can play and not just sit in a chair and watch the other kids,” Danielle Bennett said as she wiped tears from her face. “We almost lost her four years ago today and this park is just too beautiful for words.”
For Nikki and Mike Kuculyn of Layton, it means their 7-year-old son Ben, who also has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, will have a chance to play like any other child.
Nikki Kuculyn was also emotional about having a playground close to home for her son. She had heard about a similar playground in Pocatello, Idaho, and said, “I was willing to drive there for my son.”
For Ben, the playground is definitely a dream come true. He can move his wheelchair by himself along the paths to get to the slides, musical area and swings.
When asked how often he plans to come to the playground, “I hope every time I ask (Mom),” he said.
Saturday’s grand opening is just the first phase of the park, even though more than $450,000 has been raised through donations and grants, Palmer said in his speech.
“Hundreds if not thousands will come here and enjoy the amenities,” Palmer said.
The second phase of the park will require another $450,000 for a splash pad, said former Mayor Jamie Nagle.
“It’s not just any splash pad, but it will be for every child,” Nagle said. “Donations will make it a dream come true for mothers to watch their kids play in the water like every other kid.”
Tara Bennett said the playground is not just a place for children to play, but stands “as a symbol in this city showing that this community and the surrounding communities can come together to make one person’s dream come true.”
It wasn’t just checks with lots of zeros that made the playground a reality, but children who gave “bags of quarters they earned from their lemonade stands,” Tara Bennett said.
Donations for phase 2 can be made by contacting Kresta Robinson, Syracuse City Parks and Recreation director, at 801-614-9654.
Contact reporter Loretta Park at 801-625-4252 or lpark@standard.net. Follow her on Twitter at @LorettaParkSE. Like her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SELorettaPark.
