![]() ![]() I’m just incredibly grateful for the opportunity to create this space for our community and for the kids and the families here in Clinton Township.Clinton Township is one of nineteen townships in DeKalb County, Illinois, USA. “It really seemed like a long stretch of road in front of us to get enough funds,” Ottoy said. The project will take $1.3 million to finish, according to Ottoy. ![]() The committee was tasked with researching, designing and coordinating with the Clinton Civic Center, Gieleghem said.Ĭommittee members are hopeful that they will be ready to break ground at the Civic Center in spring 2024 after more fundraising and planning with local engineers. “That letter spoke to me, and so I reached out and I told AnnMarie that I would bring this matter before the board to form a committee to start working on it, but that she had to agree to chair the committee.” “The inclusive playground got started years ago when I received a letter (from Ottoy) saying, ‘Hey, there’s a number of families with members with disabilities nearby, and they need someplace to play and equipment that is designed for everybody,’” Gieleghem said. Once Gieleghem had heard Ottoy's story, he knew there would be no one better fit to lead the committee. Many children with disabilities spend a lot of time in doctors' offices, therapists' offices and in special education classrooms, and don't have a real opportunity to pursue the regular everyday stuff like playing and making friends." "His experiences growing up really led me to this point of just wanting to have build a more inclusive community. "He's actually going be 24 years old this year," Ottoy told The News. To date, the playground’s fundraising committee has raised more than $100,000 under the guidance of AnnMarie Ottoy, a parent from Clinton Township whose son, Zach, is developmentally disabled. The state’s contribution accelerated work on the project that began in 2019. “Clinton is also home to nearly 25% of Macomb county’s families with disabilities, which makes it that much more important that this is being built here.” “Clinton Township is the largest township in the state by population, but the 7th largest municipality in the state,” Clinton Township Treasurer Paul Gieleghem told the News. Veronica Klinefelt, D-Eastpointe, who attended a press conference Thursday morning at the site. Denise Mentzer, D-Mount Clemens, and state Sen. The state funding for the “Inclusive Playground” was secured by state Rep. ![]()
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