ALX Impact: The Kelley Cares Playground

Open for Play

THE KELLEY CARES PLAYGROUND STORY

STORY BY LIESEL SCHMIDT

Play is an important part of childhood. It encourages socialization, creativity, physical activity and cognitive development. Think back to your own childhood and your time with your friends. Playing on the playground probably left you with a great deal of memories. But for a child with special needs or different abilities, a traditional playground can be more of a challenge than a place for endless play. It was to create limitless possibility, to offer that place where imagination and fun transcend what’s really there, where swing sets and splash pads become portals to other worlds, that the Alexandria City Council, the Miracle League of Alexandria and the Kelley Cares Foundation partnered with major donor, CVS Health, to establish the Ruthanne Lodato Memorial Playground. Named for Ruthanne Lodato, the playground is a tribute to the work that the piano and music teacher did to support Alexandria’s special needs community. “My mom was a lifelong Alexandrian,” says Carmen Lodato, who, like her mother, is passionate about music and works as the co-center director of Music Together Alexandria. “She worked as a musician and educator for over 30 years, first in schools, then later at Music Together Alexandria and in her private piano studio in our home. She also played the piano and organ at many churches in the area. Although she was very busy with three daughters and taking care of her elderly mother living with her, she always found time to help others. She volunteered every year with Kelley Cares and started a family tradition to serve the homeless at Christ House in Old Town on Thanksgiving. She also hosted a Christmas caroling party for our neighbors and was always the first to welcome a new family to the neighborhood.”

Naturally, the playground was given a musical theme to honor Ruthanne and her long career as a music teacher. Located at the Nannie J. Lee Recreation Center on Jefferson Street as part of a recreation area behind the Lee Center, the playground shares a site with the Kelley Cares Miracle Field and is adjacent to the Lee Center basketball court, which was also repaired and recolored during the playground’s renovation project. Featuring accessible swings, outdoor music instruments, shade structures and benches, sensory play components and soft rubber surfacing, the playground was built to make outdoor play at the Nannie J. Lee Recreation Center accessible to all children, regardless of ability. “Playgrounds like this one are so important because all children should have a safe and joyful place to play,” says Carmen. “Children of all abilities can play here, but it's special because it’s inclusive to the special needs community. We should all be as inclusive as my mom was and this playground is a great place to start.” How the playground itself came to be is a great homage to Ruthanne and her life. “The project started with the Kelley Cares Foundation and the Miracle League of Alexandria, who came together to create an accessible playground suitable for special needs children,” Carmen explains. “My mom was a volunteer with Kelley Cares and an advocate for special needs children and their inclusion in group classes like Music Together. Kelley Cares approached us to name the playground after my mom, and that's why the playground has a music theme. My family was involved in the design of the playground, which makes it even more personal to me. My mom would have absolutely loved this, and it’s a great honor to her and what she tried to accomplish in her work. This playground is a place where children can have fun and learn about music at the same time. My mom would love that a playground of this kind bears her name because she believed that music was for everyone, regardless of ability. It's nice to have a physical reminder of my mom's work with children and the special needs community that I can visit.” The Ruthanne Lodato Memorial Playground is open daily and can be accessed through the Nannie J. Lee Recreation Center building or directly through the rear parking lot of the Lee Center and Alexandria Fire Training Facility.

S pu ngi f ssalc a ro t !yado

A airdnaxel

S !nraeL ,yalP ,ecnaD ,gni

J ssalC ®rehtegoT cisuM dellfi-nuF a rof sU nio

S reloohcserp ro ,relddot ,ybab ruoy htiw gnola maj dna ,elggiw ,gni e !uoy raen ssalc a ta ylimaf ruoy rof tops a evaS .keew yrev