Night at the Races raises funds for playground
The thrill of a night of horse racing will provide future playground excitement in Clinton Township for children of all abilities.
The Clinton Township Inclusive Playground Committee is fundraising for its playground project with A Night at the Races, scheduled for March 4 at Vintage House in Fraser, located at 31816 Utica Road. The event will begin at 6 p.m. with dinner served at 6:45 p.m. Kentucky Derby attire is encouraged, as prizes will be awarded for best attire. Pre-recorded horse races will be narrated by a race announcer. Raffles and auctions will also be available.
Cost for tickets is $50, and checks can be made payable to The Arc — CTIP. The ticket price includes entertainment, the catered dinner and open bar. The event is for those age 21 and over only.
Sponsorship/donation opportunities will include the following:
• $25 for horse sponsorship. This includes having the sponsor’s name, business or company name listed as the horse’s owner in the race program, and an opportunity to name a horse.
• $100 race sponsorship. This includes having the sponsor’s name, business or company logo and information promoted in the program as well as during one of the races.
• $250 silver sponsorship. This includes having the sponsor’s name, business or company logo and information promoted in the program and throughout the evening. It also includes two complimentary dinner tickets.
• $500 gold sponsorship.
This includes having the sponsor’s name, business or company logo and information promoted in the program and throughout the evening. It also includes four complimentary dinner tickets.
• $1,000 platinum sponsorship. This includes having the sponsor’s name, business or company logo and information promoted in the program and throughout the evening. It also includes eight complimentary dinner tickets.
To get tickets and sponsorship opportunities or to ask questions and make donations, contact 586405-9402 or inclusiveplayground@clintontownship.com.
Justin Michalak, assistant superintendent for special education and student services at the Macomb Intermediate School District, is the committee’s vice chair. Michalak said this year is the second that the committee has held A Night at the Races fundraiser.
“We continue brainstorming for different fundraising ideas. Some of us attended nights at the races for other organizations for their fundraising, so it was proposed to the committee. The committee thought it was a good idea,” Michalak said.
The Inclusive Playground Committee meets regularly on the last Tuesday of each month at 8:30 a.m. at the Clinton Township offices or virtually. The offices are located at 40700 Romeo Plank Road in Clinton Township. Members of the public can sit in by request.
“We also then have subcommittee meetings for different pathways for raising money,” Michalak said.
The committee also partners with groups and organizations such as The Arc of Macomb County.
Clinton Township Board of Trustees adopted a resolution on Dec. 9, 2019 to create the inclusive playground committee, designed to support the development of an inclusive playground in the township. Treasurer Paul Gielegham is a member of the committee and has served on it since its inception.
“I authored the resolution and presented it to the board on Dec. 9, 2019, just prior to the pandemic,” Gieleghem said.
The resolution indicates that the committee will have not less than seven or more than 13 members, and will include at least two representatives of the township. It also indicates committee members will be citizens who either live in the township or “work for an organization with a physical presence in Clinton Township that serves persons with disabilities.”
The resolution further indicates the committee will be responsible for developing research, outreach, design and build recommendations, as well as reporting these recommendations to the township parks and recreation and public services departments. These departments in turn inform the township board. Michalak said, that the committee frequently collaborates with parks and recreation, and continues to have a good partnership with the board in developing the playground.
“It is not just traditional slides and swings. Everyone can participate and utilize the park. We are looking at it to be a park for people, again, students, families, extended families, friends, to come and have an area outside to enjoy recreation that has something for everyone,” Michalak said.
The resolution defines an accessible playground as one that offers a range of play experiences to children of varying abilities and complies with the Americans With Disabilities Act, but does not mean every feature or event must be usable by every child and caregiver. It also defines that an inclusive playground removes barriers to social and physical inclusion, as well as providing a sensory rich experience for everyone.
“You want to see features for students and adults of all abilities, for them to have the opportunity to utilize the playground. If they have physical disabilities, adaptive equipment for swings, other types of playground equipment. Storyboards for the nonverbal,” Michalak said, adding quiet areas are also important for those with sensory needs.
Michalak describes the driving force behind the committee as its chairperson AnnMarie Ottoy.
“She has a child with special needs and approached the township and Mr. Gieleghem the treasurer about the need for an inclusive playground for all abilities, for families to come together,” Michalak said.
He also said that the inclusive playground is slated to be installed at the center of other township amenities.
“The space is located on the township grounds, it is between the township and the library, right where the splash pad is, off of Romeo Plank. It is next to where the splash pad is, it will go between the splash pad and the library there. The township gave us the property fairly early in the process,” Michalak said.
The committee has been concentrating the last few years more upon playground design and creating awareness for the project, as well as raising funds, according to Michalak. Obtaining grants and corporate donations are important missions as well, he said. Michalak estimated that the project will cost over a million dollars.
“We are looking at doing it in a few different phases,” Michalak said.
Donations to the inclusive playground project can be made at arcservices.org/ctip. More information about the committee can be found at clintontownship. com/362/InclusivePlayground-Committee.