Circle the Playground

Melaina's Magical Playland is an all inclusive, accessible playground being built at Cape County Park North. It is the inspiration of Jeff and Andrea Cunningham, whose daughter Melaina was born with Nemaline Myopathy and wasn't able to physically access the "average" playground equipment due to her disability and physical challenges. Fundraising efforts have been ongoing for the approximate 4 years since the project's inception and community members have responded with overwhelming support.

Board members for Melaina's Playland recently approached the SB 40 board (Cape County Board for Developmentally Disabled) for the final $220,000 in funding needed to meet the fundraising goal, but the request was denied. The CCBDD did recently authorize the funding of two vans in the amount of $200,000 for CTA and it was after learning of that funding that Melaina's Playland board members decided to enlist the help of the CCBDD for the playground project.

As a member of the board for Melaina's Magical Playland, I am terribly disappointed that our request was denied. If you are a Cape County taxpayer and have an interest in disability issues, I encourage you to begin attending the public meetings of the CCBDD at the County offices in Jackson at 6 pm on the second Tuesday of each month.

Though we were denied funding by the CCBDD and we were discouraged, we are confident we will complete the playground this summer. I can't wait to see children with and without disabilities playing side by side and seeing parents with disabilities playing with their children at Melaina's Magical Playland!

Galatians 6:9

New International Version (NIV)

9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

EVERYONE IS WELCOME. PLEASE JOIN US!

YOU ARE INVITED!

CIRCLE THE PLAYGROUND PRAYER EVENT

*Sunday, June 2nd at 1 pm

at

*Melaina's Magical Playland

Cape County Park North

We invite all supporters of Melaina's Magical Playland to join us as we gather in group prayer for the playground and then participate in a prayer walk around the playground. There is power in prayer.

Some individual prayer suggestions are:

Prayers for final funding goals to be met.

Prayers for final construction to go smoothly and safely and for God's blessings on all those working on the construction.

Prayers for all the people who will play at the playground-for their health and well being and for them to feel like a valued part of their community, that they feel blessed.

Prayers that relationships be formed and barriers be broken as children with and without disabilities play side by side.

Prayers for inclusion of ALL people with disabilities in every aspect of our community. May they be actively welcome and included in our community-with places to work, play and live.

Prayers for parents of children -that they be strengthened in body and spirit and that they be blessed and know that our community is ready to embrace their children in every aspect of our community.