Jonathan’s Dream Playground is Growing Up! Mandell JCC Prepares to Modernize Community Playground

The Mandell JCC is preparing to modernize Jonathan’s Dream Playground, announced David Jacobs, Executive Director of the Mandell JCC. Effective immediately, the playground on the Zachs Campus, 335 Bloomfield Ave., West Hartford, CT, will be closed to the community while the space is deconstructed and refurbishment plans are developed. A free gathering entitled Imagine What Could Be, will take place at the Mandell JCC, and unveil potential play-area concepts, and will solicit community feedback from children and adults. Imagine What Could Be will be held on Thursday, May 23, 2013 at 6:00 p.m. Jonathan’s Dream was originally developed in 1996 by West Hartford residents, the Barzach family, to celebrate the life and memory of their son, Jonathan. The playground was the first of its kind, designed to welcome all children, regardless of their physical abilities. The decision to redesign the playground, which coincides with what would have been Jonathan’s 19th birthday, is the result of an annual safety inspection earlier this year. “Playgrounds typically have a lifespan of 15- to 20-years,” commented Amy Jaffe Barzach, creator of Jonathan’s Dream. “We were anticipating a modification to the playground at some point. We’re embracing this as an opportunity. Jonathan’s Dream is growing up.” The Mandell JCC professional staff and lay leaders envision a new, all-abilities inclusive, active and engaging space to be built on the site of the current playscape. A plan of potential layouts will be unveiled to the community at the Imagine What Could Be gathering on Thursday, May 23, 2013 at 6:00 p.m., facilitated by Shane’s Inspiration. An estimated timeline of the revamp process will also be available at the gathering. The gathering, which is open to both children and adults, will include a free pasta dinner and salad. Pre-registration for the dinner is required by Monday, May 20, 2013; contact the Member Services Center, 860-236-4571 for details and registration. To sign up for the Mandell JCC’s mailing list with updates regarding Jonathan’s Dream, please contact jonathansdream@mandelljcc.org. The Mandell Jewish Community Center is open to everyone and supported by funds raised by the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford, a recipient of funding from the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford, and a member of the JCC Association of North America. For updates, visit www.mandelljcc.org, or follow the Mandell JCC on Facebook and Twitter.