Community Corner

Jonathan's Dream Playground Is Growing Up

The accessible playground at the Mandell JCC, which first opened in 1996, will be getting a makeover.

West Hartford's first accessible playground, Jonathan's Dream, will be renovated and modernized, Mandell JCC officials announced last week.

According to the JCC, playgrounds typically have a useful life of 15 to 20 years, and a recent safety inspection of Jonathan's Dream revealed that it had reached the end of its life expectancy.

The concept of Jonathan's Dream was created by Amy Jaffe Barzach, in celebration and memory of her son Jonathan. “We were anticipating a modification to the playground at some point. We’re embracing this as an opportunity. Jonathan’s Dream is growing up,” Barzach is quoted as saying in a post by the JCC on West Hartford Patch's "About Town" Board.

Jonathan would have been 19 this year.

On May 23, the JCC will host "Imagine What Could Be" – where community input from adults and children about concepts for the new playground will be solicited.

According to Mandell JCC professional staff and lay leaders, the new playground is envisioned as an "all-abilities inclusive, active and engaging space to be built on the site of the current playscape." 

Imagine What Could Be is scheduled for 6 p.m. on May 23 at the JCC, and will include a free pasta dinner. Pre-registration for the dinner is required by Monday, May 20, 2013. Contact the Member Services Center at 860-236-4571 for details and registration.


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