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Tampa Park Opens Saturday For Children With Disabilities

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By JOSE PATION GIRONA of The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 30, 2008

Updated: 01/29/2008 10:34 pm

TAMPA - Seven years ago, Stefani Busansky had the idea of building a playground that was accessible to all children.

She was inspired by her daughter Sarah, now 8, who has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair.

At 11 a.m. Saturday, Freedom Playground will open at Macfarlane Park, 1700 N. MacDill Ave. For the past five to six weeks, volunteers have headed to the playground on a Saturday or Sunday to prepare for opening day.

"The family, friends and people in the community have formed one big family," said Toni Beddingfield, Sarah's grandmother.

The playground includes swings, slides, sliding poles and sandboxes with sculpted turtles that shoot water. There also are musical instruments, including chimes, steel drums and plastic conga drums.

Busansky, president and founder of the Freedom Playground Foundation, has raised $915,000 for the project, including $450,000 from the city and a $150,000 grant from CVS Pharmacy.

An additional $18,000 is needed to build an accessible playhouse in the young children's area. The playground is designed for ages 2 to 12.

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