Jonathan’s Dream, located on the grounds of the Mandell JCC in West Hartford, will be featured in a national playground catalogue.

By Ronni Newton

Jonathan’s Dream, the newly-rebuilt and fully-accessible playground in West Hartford that re-opened last October, will be featured in a national playground magazine.

Amy Barzach, whose inspiration led to the creation of the original Jonathan’s Dream, and whose work with “Partner in Good” Ronit Shoham helped rebuild the playground, is looking for children ages 5-12 to appear in a photo shoot for the playground feature on May 23.

“Help inspire more communities to develop inclusive playgrounds where children with and without disabilities can play, learn, and celebrate life together!” Barzach said.

The photo shoot will take place on Wednesday, May 23, from 4:15-6:30 p.m. Children ages 5-12 are needed, and Barzach said they are looking for 18 children with disabilities and 18 children without disabilities to participate, and spots will be filled in the order of responses received.

Anyone interested in participating should send a private message to Jonathan’s Dream Facebook group or email [email protected] with parent name, cellphone number, email, and names and ages of children, noting the child’s/children’s disability, if any. A $10 gift card from the company that manufactured most of the playground equipment in Jonathan’s Dream will be given to participants.

If any spaces remain, participants can also come to Jonathan’s Dream on May 23 at 4:15 p.m. to sign a waiver to participate in the photo shoot.

“Jonathan’s Dream will be open to the public that afternoon – and as always everyone is welcome to play and be in the photo shoot if they sign waivers but gift cards are limited to the first 18 children with disabilities and the first 18 children without disabilities who register/participate,” Barzach said. Photos will be shared with everyone via Facebook.

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