Businesses, organizations pitch in to build ‘Sway Fun’

On Wednesday, Oct. 12, and Saturday, Oct. 15, a group of Annandale Lions and some school district employees gathered at Annandale Elementary to assemble a new piece of playground equipment.

Also on hand Saturday morning were members of the Annandale cross country team. They spread wood chips on the school’s playground.

Called the "Sway Fun," this piece of equipment will be accessible for all students, including those who are in wheelchairs.

Annandale Elementary currently has two children utilizing wheelchairs. They will be provided with additional opportunities to play and socialize with other children in ways that they currently do not have access to.

The "Sway Fun" was purchased at a cost of $12,690 from Landscape Structures in Delano.

Laura Scheer provides occupational therapy services to the Annandale School District through Meeker and Wright Special Education Cooperative MAWSECO. Scheer led the fundraising effort to raise the necessary money for the project.

Contributions came from the Cardinal Athletic Foundation, Annandale PTO, Heart of the Lakes Triathlon, Annandale Lions Club, Kiwanis, South Haven Fire Department Relief Association and the Annandale Health and Community Services. Private donations came from John Driste, Sally Smith, Jon and Laura Scheer, Diann and LeRoy Neisius, Candy Gilbertson and some anonymous donors.

In addition, M&M Bus Services donated the delivery of the "Sway Fun" from Delano, Flygare Excavating donated all the site prep and dirt work and in addition to money, the Annandale Lions assembled the "Sway Fun" at the site.

Scheer indicated that the school district contributed the ramp and some associated installation costs.

"Children who use wheelchairs as their primary means of mobility were unable to access any playground equipment on Cardinal Kingdom or Cardinal Island, with the exception of one handicapped-accessible swing," Scheer said.

Unlike the swing, the Sway Fun does not require the student to be taken out of the wheelchair. A ramp allows the wheelchair to be wheeled on. Two wheelchairs can be on the equipment at a time, plus there is room for other students. The Sway Fun operates like a glider, which is pushed by other students.

"The Sway Fun was originally considered for playground equipment when Annandale Elementary was built, but was cost prohibitive," Scheer said.

All 800-plus students at AES will have access to the Sway Fun during the school day. Any students within the district who have similar wheelchair mobility needs also have access during the school day. All ages in the Annandale community will have access to the Sway Fun after school hours.