JT’s Grommett Island Beach Park and Playground, near Rudee Inlet at the Virginia Beach oceanfront, is impressive. It’s the first handicap-accessible beach park in the country. There are sandcastle building stations, where kids in wheelchairs can pull right up and start building. There are swings and telescopes and sound-makers that are easily accessible to differently-abled kids and adults.
The work has been a labor of love in honor of Josh Thompson, a surfer who grew up in Virgina Beach, who is battling ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease). He’ll be among the many who can now enjoy a day at the park with the entire family.
“Really it’s more the looks on the faces — when you see somebody here and they go wow and you see their eyes wide open and you see kids can’t wait to get out here and play. You see disabled people in wheelchairs; elderly people who get to come play with their grandchildren,” said project manager John Baab of Ocean Consulting.
No public monies, only private funds and a passion that arose from adversity, were used in the development and building of the park. Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell officially opened the park at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, May 26th. Billed as a “Beach Park and Playground for every BODY,” the park is located at 100 2nd Street.
Thanks to Joe Flanagan, 13NEWS / WVEC.com, for his video report: http://www.wvec.com/news/Grommett-Island-Park-preview-94520544.html
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SmartRegion.org » Hampton Roads Tourists – A Warm Welcome says:
September 3, 2011 at 1:00 pm (UTC -4 )
[...] because cities go out of their way to service special wants and needs. There’s newly opened JT’s Grommet Island Beach Park and Playground in Virginia Beach, the first-ever handicap-accessible oceanfront park. There are resorts for [...]