FEATURED PLAYGROUND

Jonathan’s Dream: Reimagined

We want to shine a spotlight on our featured playground, Jonathan’s Dream: Reimagined.

The original Jonathan’s Dream was built in 1996 on the campus of the Mandell Jewish Community Center (JCC) in West Hartford, CT by Amy Barzach and her family in memory of their son Jonathan. Jonathan’s Dream quickly became a mecca for children of all abilities. Time magazine wrote an article about Jonathan’s Dream and soon requests poured in from across the country from individuals, organizations, schools, and nonprofits interested in creating an inclusive playground for their own communities. Amy went on to found Boundless Playgrounds, a nonprofit that created several hundred inclusive playgrounds in the U.S. and Canada.

After serving the needs of the West Hartford, CT community for nearly 20 years, the Barzach family decided to reimagine Jonathan’s Dream!  Inclusion Matters by Shane’s Inspiration had the profound honor of being asked to join this effort. Through collaborative development and inclusive playground design, Jonathan’s Dream Reimagined reopened in 2017, extending the Barzach family legacy for years to come!

We could not be more grateful to walk on this journey with the Barzach family, who so generously sparked and supported Inclusion Matters by Shane’s Inspiration’s beginnings! Their incredible legacy, in memory of Jonathan, honors All children and welcomes them into the heart of their communities!