Rendering of the playground to be built at Stanley that meets the needs of children with disabilities.

A first-of-its-kind all-inclusive playground in the metro area will be built at Stanley Marketplace. The playground will feature handicapped accessible and musical sensory equipment to allow children and families of diverse needs to experience outdoor play with their peers. “There is so much learning that happens on the playground,” says Juliet Dawkins, co-founder of LuBird’s Light Foundation, which, together with other donors, is funding the project. “Playground experiences should be a welcoming and important part of every child’s life.”

There are over 74,000 kids with disabilities in Colorado who are unable to take full advantage of existing playground equipment. The Stanley Marketplace and the City of Aurora have granted approximately 5,000 square feet of outdoor space to build the playground. The site was chosen because of its proximity to Denver metro area pediatric hospitals and the Stanley Marketplace’s community-focused mission. The playground is expected to break ground by the end of 2017.

LuBird’s Light Foundation will host its 5th Annual St. Lucia White Party fundraiser on Saturday, Sept. 23 from 7-11pm at the Stanley Marketplace. To learn more about the foundation or to purchase individual tickets and sponsorship packages, visit www.lubirdslight.org or call 720.854.5995.