Quesnel woman raises $200k for city's first accessible playground

It took four years, but Sandy Meidlinger has succeeded in fundraising $200,000 for Quesnel's first accessible playground.

Meidlinger, who works for theQuesneland District Child Development Centre, started fundraising after hearing about two twin girls who could not play together on local playgrounds because one was in a wheelchair.

Because of the Northstar Road playground, they haven't had to play apart any longer.

"They have a good time on it. They really like it," Meidlinger told Radio West host Audrey McKinnon. "I just get so choked whenever I go by it and see all the kids playing. There's always 10, 20, 30 kids playing on all aspects of the playground, all different abilities. It makes me really happy."

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While the playground has been open throughout the summer, an event Thursday will serve as the official unveiling.

Meidlinger caught wind of the girls' situation through her work at a childcare centre and formed a group to fundraise for the new equipment, which features ramps so both girls can reach everything.

The fundraising she and her group did included grant proposals, presentations to community groups, a pub night and even acookie sale at the local Tim Horton's that is still ongoing.

Meidlinger says the ongoing fundraisingis to pay back the City of Quesnel for underwriting the playground's rubberized floor and also build an accessible, covered picnic table near the playground.

The official unveiling kicks off at 3 p.m. at the Quesnel and District Arts and Recreation Centre on Northstar Road.

With files from CBC Radio One's Radio West