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Community Corner

Fircrest Mobility Park

 

I am writing to you in hopes that you may wish to make a last minute tax deductible donation to help fund the survey and final construction plans for the Community Connections Pedestrian Promenade for the campus community where Thomas lives and calls home. 

Fircrest is campus community for people with complex intellectual, developmental and medical disabilities.  Fircrest is located in Shoreline, WA on a beautiful campus with duplexes situated so that the residents do not live near busy streets.  This campus was once home to the Seattle Naval Hospital.  Most of the buildings from the Naval Hospital have been removed but the sidewalks from the 1940s are still remain but are in desperate need of being replaced.

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Fircrest is a state operated facility and given the slashing of funds, particularly for those with developmental disabilities, the upgrades to ADA compliance, repair and maintenance have been lacking or non-existent.   This is evidenced by the cracks, holes, uneven junctions, grinding, puddles, muddy pathways and concrete slabs displaced by tree roots  which are all safety hazards to not only the residents but visitors and staff. 

Walking is the only physical activity that many of our residents are able to do.  In addition to walking being a physical exercise it is also a social activity which aids with increased communication and interaction with others.  As part of habilitation and active treatment (life skills training) we need to have safe, ADA accessible walkways for our residents.  It is embarrassing that our state has let the walkways deteriorate to such a degree on a campus which ought to have ADA compliant structures. 

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I am so grateful to Peggy Gaynor, GAYNOR, Inc for providing hours of pro bono work to help me with a draft design for Fircrest Mobility Park.  We have gained approval from the State Department of Social and Health Services to proceed with a survey and final construction plans for the Pedestrian Promenade—the backbone for this plan.   Our goal is to raise funds for this part of the project to help build community ownership and participation in the health sand safety of our loved ones. 

We know our community cares but may not know how to help us.  We would greatly appreciate donations so that we may start this project by late spring 2014.  We need to raise roughly $125,000 for the survey and detailed construction design. 

Here are two ways that you can help us reach our goal:

Mail a tax deductible contribution to:

Friends of Fircrest—Mobility Park

15230 15th Ave NE

Shoreline, WA  98155

 

Or donate online at

http://www.gofundme.com/Fircrest-Mobility-Park

For more information on this project please visit www.fircrestpool.com

Please share with others to help build our community!

Your help is greatly appreciated and I am thankful for this opportunity to not only make the community in which my son lives better but to help promote the health and safety of all the residents—both current and in the future.

 

 

Cheryl Felak, RN, BSN

Because We Care—Beyond Inclusion

Seattle, WA

www.becausewecare1.com

 

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