The City of Mar­i­on has been award­ed $5,000 towards ADA (Amer­i­can Dis­abil­i­ties Act) acces­si­ble pic­nic tables in Mat­ter Park. The grant will pay for five tables, and the City will pay a remain­ing $2,000 for two addi­tion­al tables, for a total of sev­en acces­si­ble struc­tures through­out Mat­ter Park – in shel­ters, Friend­ship Cor­ner, and the Mead­ow Pavilion.

May­or Mor­rell expressed, ​“We are thrilled to receive this grant to improve acces­si­bil­i­ty in our parks. This aligns with this administration’s vision to make our parks enjoy­able and safe for all.”

The City of Marion’s con­tract­ed grant writer worked with the Parks & Recre­ation Depart­ment to write and sub­mit the grant. The ​‘Mighty Mon­ey’ grant was award­ed by the AWS Foun­da­tion out of Fort Wayne, IN.

“From fam­i­ly reunions to birth­day par­ties, park pavil­ions are a valu­able space in any com­mu­ni­ty,” said AWS Foun­da­tion CEO, Pat­ti Hays. ​“Addi­tions like these acces­si­ble pic­nic tables ensure that every­one can attend.”

Parks Direc­tor Rose Cade­na said the grant is a bench­mark toward their over­all objec­tive. ​“Our goal is to make every park acces­si­ble for every­one. This grant helps us get one step closer.”

Instal­la­tion will occur imme­di­ate­ly upon deliv­ery which is expect­ed by the end of summer.