By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.–It was a red-letter day for the Levi Miles Foundation today as dozens gathered to witness the groundbreaking for the Paris Inclusion Playground. The state-of-the-art playground will be located at Ogburn Park and will welcome children and families of all backgrounds and abilities.
It’s the dream of David and Shayna Miles and is coming true, with $2M in private and in-kind donations already received. David Miles said, “We have just a little more to go to make this dream a reality”.
Shayna Miles told the crowd, “This is not just for the here and now. It’s for the future. We want this to outlast every single one of us.” She said the Foundation wants to create memories for families and the community. “I hear people say they remember playing on the playground, on the slide, here in Ogburn Park” and she hopes people have good memories of the Inclusion Park, too.
Both David and Shayna thanked the community for coming together to create the Inclusion Playground and both said they couldn’t believe how quickly the pieces fell into place.
The Levi Miles Foundation is hopeful that the park will be complete by Labor Day of this year.
Paris City Manager Kim Foster said she is blown away by the enthusiasm and energy exhibited by the Miles’ couple and their board. She also credited the city’s Parks and Recreation Department for the work they have done already. “Tony (Lawrence) is always going to find a way to make things happen.”
The Levi Miles Foundation was founded for the purpose of providing support and resources to children with disabilities and rare diseases, as well as to promote acceptance and inclusion of all individuals within our communities.
The site plan for the playground was prepared by LI Smith and Associates of Paris. The design of this playground has received a Certificate of Inclusivity from Let Kids Play and will be the only playground in Tennessee with this certification.
Photo: David and Shayna Miles, board members and city officials shovel dirt at the groundbreaking. Shannon McFarlin photo.