(PENSACOLA) --- Funding for special needs children that goes straight to special interests is deplorable.
That was the message Mary Fritz told officials at the Parks & Recreation Board meeting on Tuesday.
(Photo: Retired special education teacher Mary Fritz calls lack of special-needs parks in Pensacola deplorable)
Fritz used her grandaughter as an example.
“There's no safe place for her to go to play and run at her own speed, slide or swing, or a playground that is safe for her, that appeals to her and her friends,” Fritz said.
Fritz is not alone in the fight for inclusive parks. Former Councilwoman and District 2 candidate Sheri Myers has been fighting for years to ensure special-needs children have a playground.
“My first attempt and petition and committee work for Tippin Park was in 1972,” Fritz said.
However, her efforts were to no avail.
“When I heard that there was going to be $1,100,000 provided for Tippin to be upgraded to a place where special needs people could come in and have a nice place to play, I was delighted,” Fritz said. I have a Down Syndrome granddaughter, and over the years, she's 21 years old now, but she still likes to go play at the park.”
But since the special-needs equipment at Bayview Park was taken down, the family travels to Pace so her granddaughter can play at the inclusive park there.
Fritz called out Vice Chair Dan Brask and other council members.
“I see you shaking your head, but are you even listening?” Fritz said.
(Photo: Parks and Recreation Board Vice Chair Daniel Brask at the June 16 meeting)
“Yes, ma'am, I am,” Brask said, adding that the only control the board has is recommendations to the city council.
Studer, known for his local philanthropy and background in special education, discussed his accessible projects, including the Pensacola Blue Wahoo Stadium, Studer Family Children's Hospital, and the Autism Center.
Studer said that Pensacola has made some progress regarding special-needs children's programs, but more can be done, as seen in Janesville, Wisconsin.
“The playground was completely rebuilt in 2016 and 2017 to incorporate modern accessibility,” Studer said, adding It features wheelchair accessible ramps, inclusive swings, accessible merry-go-rounds, sensory play elements, and smooth surfacing.. “It’s designed so children of all abilities can play together.”
(Photo: Quint Studer, founder of Studer Family Children's Hospital, at the June 16 Parks and Recreation meeting)
While Studer said he understands the board's limits, that does not mean the board’s recommendations are insignificant.
“I think what we're trying to do is just get it higher up on the radar, higher up on the to-do list as the city council and the strong mayor make funding decisions," Studer said.
Janet Powell, a retired special education teacher with 27 years of experience, also champions inclusive playgrounds in Pensacola. However, she told board members that confining special needs equipment to a single park promotes renewed segregation.
“I don't want to undermine anything that these beautiful people have just said, but I think every park should be included," Powell said.
Powell cited Jesus Christ to prove her point.
(Photo: Janice Powell confronts Pensacola Parks and Recreation officials on having special-needs park equipment throughout Pensacola)
“The Lord works in mysterious ways,” Powell said, adding that on her elevator ride to the town hall second floor, there is a poster with a resident in a wheelchair. “I just feel like we need to keep promoting the idea that every single person is important.”
Myers ended the public comments, noting that Tippin Park is the most suitable and centrally located site for a special-needs park.
“If you listen to what Councilwoman Jennifer Brahier said the night they took the money out of Tippin Park, she made a very powerful plea to not take all the $900,000 out of Tippin Park, and said that it was a regional park so close to 9th Avenue,” Myers said.
(Photo: Sheri Myers continues to fight for Tippin Park becoming a special-needs park)
Other Key Takeaways from the meeting, captured by the OpGov.News platform included a lack of quorum, which barred business as usual.
“Unfortunately, unless we get a couple of other board members who show up here late, we wouldn’t be able to process through the Southern Youth Sports Association today, along with the Pensacola Wildcats," Bask said.
Additionally, the platform reports concerns about park cleanliness, specifically issues with dog waste and off-leash dogs on sports fields.
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