At last month’s Galva City Council meeting, the Galva Ready to Grow group presented the city with a check for $4,000 towards the cost of a wheelchair-accessible swing for Wiley Park. The specially designed swing will allow children of all ages with disabilities to join others in playground fun.
The swing allows wheelchair users to roll directly onto the platform without transferring out of their chairs.
Annette Smith, Ready to Grow’s President said, “The group is thrilled to be able to add the swing to Wiley Park. Now kids in wheelchairs can share in the fun with their peers and families.”
Smith went on to say that the money for the special swing was raised through various fundraising events.
“We are so very proud of this donation”, she said, noting that the seven main members of the group were assisted by countless other volunteers and donors. “We couldn’t have done it without them.”
Their many efforts include an annual Halloween party for Galva children, new signs for the cemetery, benches in the downtown area, and annual clean-up days. Shelly Hurd, who keeps a running calendar of events on the group’s Facebook page, recalled how the group was instrumental in getting Rubezahl, the beloved mountain gnome, repaired and returned to the city.
“After being missing for several years, he was located and given a new coat of paint”, said Hurd. “He now sits proudly in front of the Learning Connections Daycare Center.”
Raising the $4,000 needed to purchase the special swing was no small task, and the group is hoping to add more volunteers.
“Everyone is welcome to join us,” said Smith, who invited anyone interested to attend their meetings which are held on the second Tuesday of each month at 5:30 at the Galva City Hall.
The group also has a Facebook page that showcases their many activities.
