Park unveiled

MARYSVILLE – Thanks to Leah’s Dream Foundation, a dream has come true at Kellogg Marsh Elementary School.

The foundation paid for a new, all-inclusive playground that emphasizes sensory rather than athletic abilities.

The foundation donated $45,000 to purchase and install 1,125 square feet of Forever Lawn Playground Grass that includes a music area: congas, casabas, chimes and vibes instrument; and a Play Panel that includes a tic-tac-toe, driver, tactical and rainbow.

Leah cut the ribbon to the playground, while kids jumped in and played right afterward.

“It’s been a dream of ours that all kids could play together. Now it’s a reality,” Principal Eneille Nelson said Monday.

“We need to enjoy each other as students and as a community.”

Ginger Merkel, executive director of special education with the school district, said it’s all about “equity and inclusion for all students playing alongside each other.”

Interim superintendent Jason Thompson added, “We wouldn’t have this without the foundation.”

He said he loves when community groups work with the school district to help provide for the city’s children.

“We’ll take as many as we can get,” he said, smiling..

The goal of the foundation is to provide social, charitable, economic and other support for families of children and adults with autism.