On April 24, former Mayor Candice Sheehan cut the ribbon to open the Sheehan Family Playground. She has always been an accessibility advocate and is very proud to have Coppell’s first all-abilities park named after her.
In the 1990s, Sheehan served in the Coppell City Council and was elected mayor. She served in the Partners in Policymaking, Partners Resource Network and the Dallas Epilepsy Association.
“It’s the biggest honor I’ve ever received,” Sheehan said. “It’s bigger than being elected the first female mayor of Coppell.”
Sheehan has a 40-year-old son, Zachary, in a wheelchair. Zachary attended the grand opening.
“Zach smiled the whole time and when he heard his name he just burst into joy,” Sheehan said. “He pushed his power chair and just zoomed up to the ribbon so quickly. I drive by this park quite a bit and it is always full.”
“It just makes my heart burst. It’s accessible to all and I love that.”
Visitors can enjoy a variety of swings, musical instruments, monkey bars, sensory activities, slides, climbing walls, a communication board, a space pod and glider. The bouncy, rubber surface allows easy rolling and walking for wheelchairs, strollers and walkers.
“It needs to be easy to access for all.” Sheehan said. “No matter what disability or need that there is for someone.”
Coppell Parks and Recreation chair member Mary Arnold worked heavily on this project.
“I told them I just wanted to make Coppell more accessible,” Arnold said. “The community is really embracing it, which has made me really proud to see that a need was fulfilled that maybe people didn’t realize was here.”
Arnold’s passion in the Parks and Recreation Board is rooted in her passion for accessibility.
“It’s the beginning of Coppell paying attention to accessibility for their citizens. Communities benefit when access needs are met. The joy this park brings is just the start,” Arnold said. “My hope is that with every park added, the city is thinking about accessibility.”
The community is slowly becoming aware of accessibility issues. In future projects this will be a point of discussion.
“It’s got to be a mindset,” Sheehan said. “That when a project is developed, they must think of accessibility.”
Accessibility leads to equality.
“One of the comments at the ribbon cutting was from a neighbor,” Sheehan said. “He said with his kids playing with Zach, he understood disability issues better.”
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