At the City Council meeting on August 19, the Council formally accepted a gift from Eden Prairie resident Mr. Mike Garvin representing the Tom & Kathy Miller Foundation. The gift was a check for $134,369 to help fund the renovation of the Miller Park playground into a modern “barrier free” playground. The playground, which complies with current ADA standards, will go a step beyond the accessibility standards required by state and federal law.
Barrier free playgrounds increase the access for all children. The entire area is coated in a rubber surface that is easy to wheel things on. Our Parks & Recreation Director Mr. Jay Lotthammer told me that one of the primary advantages of a barrier free playground is that children won’t have to get out of a wheelchair to get to the second level, which allows kids in wheelchairs to have a similar playground experience as kids out of a wheelchair. In addition to those in wheelchairs getting more use out of the equipment, those people with kids in strollers make better use of the playground too, as well as helping kids with crutches or those who have other mobility issues.
Mr. Garvin told the Council about his motivation: his five year old daughter Ashley who has cerebral palsy. Mr. Garvin wanted to help the City provide a park where kids, like his daughter, could enjoy a beautiful outdoor Eden Prairie park and have a playground that works for them. Mr. Garvin never came to the City and grumbled about the situation. He also didn’t sit silently at home and wish for a playground that would work for his daughter. He took up the challenge of making it happen. He worked with city staff to figure out what was needed. He helped figure out how much money the proposed playground would cost. Then he went about the business of raising money, which he delivered at the City Council meeting on August 19. The new playground is currently under construction and will be completed before the end of this year.
There are so many worthy causes that would like to receive gifts such as this from residents like Mike Garvin. We’re very pleased that he and his family decided to share their gift with their community where it can be used by everyone. Thank you Mike. It’s people like you who make Eden Prairie a great community to live, work and dream.
