ADA access to swings is in the works at five Walton County parks. The first has been installed at Wee Care Park in DeFuniak Springs. The additional swings will be located at Freeport Regional Sports Complex, Gene Hurley, Paxton, and Helen McCall parks.
The fulfillment of an idea born at the Walton County Sheriff’s Office is brought to fruition with the help of the hard working employees at Walton County Parks and Recreation. The first of five wheelchair swings has been installed at Wee Care Park in DeFuniak Springs.
The birth of the idea came from Sheriff Michael Adkinson himself at an executive staff meeting at his office in DeFuniak Springs and has been carried out by Major Brian Schultz, Tammy Godwin, Captain Michael Gainey, Lieutenant Oscar Jiggetts, and all the staff at the Walton County Jail including inmates.
“This was something I had to do,” said Sheriff Adkinson. “Kids with handicaps should not be kept from participating at play grounds just like other children. This now levels the playing field for them.”
Money raised for the swings totals $12,000 and has come from anonymous donors, fundraising, and with the help of County Commissioners Bill Chapman and Sara Comander. Commissioner’s Chapman and Comander both dedicated $5,000 each from their district’s recreational plat fees for the project, which are used to improve parks and recreation throughout the County.
The wheelchair accessible swings are specially designed to accommodate both adult and juvenile wheelchairs, along with motorized wheel chairs.