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Darin, Angela Lindig have lasting legacy
Published 12:00pm Monday, December 14, 2009Several years ago Fergus Falls native Darin Lindig and his wife, Angela, recognized the need for an accessible playground in the Boise, Idaho, community so that their daughter, Amber, who has a disability, could play right alongside her siblings who don’t have disabilities.
“Darin and Angela were looking for a playground that offered some kind of facility for people with disabilities,” said Darin’s Father, David Lindig. “There was nothing in the Boise area.”
It’s a real credit to Darin and Angela who came up with an idea which they presented to city and state officials. Today, Adventure Island Playground is Idaho’s first universally accessible playground.
Darin and Angela worked with volunteers to design the playground and spearheaded a $1.2 million fundraising effort. As the design was coming together in the spring of 2001, planners realized they would need to partner with a larger agency or incorporate as their own non-profit entity.
Many of the parents involved in the process, including the Lindigs, had children who attended JumpStart, a pediatric therapy program through Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center. Several of the therapists who worked there were also involved in the planning process for Adventure Island Playground.
Angela Lindig met with leaders at the Saint Alphonsus Foundation office who immediately embraced the idea. Saint Alphonsus joined as a partner. Over the years they’ve donated staff and services through the entire process and have granted funds.
More than 300 volunteers came together in August 2004 to construct the main play structure by hand, in one of the largest community building events ever held in one day. The first phase of the playground opened in November 2004 and has been enjoyed by thousands since.
The Adventure Island Playground serves as a model of universal design in Idaho and elsewhere.
This sensory-rich playground includes areas of imaginative play, full ramp access to the main play structure, rubberized poured-in-place surfacing, a water splashpad, rock climbing area, and outdoor musical play equipment.
Children of all abilities can learn, play, and grow together at the Adventure Island Playground, emphasize Darin and Angela.
As plans for Adventure Island took form, Darin, Angela and others close to the project realized the their message was not just about the playground but also about inclusion.
“Basic human rights,” said Angela, “is part of this. Adventure Island is for everyone and a place where children naturally learn about diversity without needing to be taught. The Adventure Island Playground is about the power of play to bring a community together.”
The states of Maryland, Connecticut and California, after learning about Adventure Island Playground, formed grant initiatives to ensure every child will have this opportunity in their states. Adventure Island put Idaho on the map as a leader in inclusion and a place that promotes basic human rights and dignity. The Lindigs and others hope that Adventure Island will continue to serve as a model so that other communities in Idaho and all across the United States will also enjoy similar facilities.
During a special dedication of the park, civic leaders and thanked Darin and Angela. They well deserve the recognition both now and in future years.
