In August 2017, the Reischl family and their community lost Elijah Del Reischl, a sweet boy who at not quite four years old understood the real meaning of inclusion—not just being in the same space but playing, laughing, and loving together. We need more spaces that are designed to ensure that people have opportunities to engage and participate meaningfully with others. We imagine a world where people recognize that we are more alike than different and can find belonging in diversity.

The Pathways Park Project will create a park tailored to be welcoming to all. Thoughtfully designed for inclusion, every aspect of the park will be accessible to everyone. This project will also serve as a model for how parks can integrate nature and be built to increase opportunities for youth and adults of all backgrounds and abilities, fostering a sense of belonging through physical activity together outside.

Grounded in the principles of equity, the project’s plan has been informed by authentic listening and learning between the people experiencing isolation/exclusion from nature and physical activity and the people planning and designing the park. We have included all of these voices in our design process in order to ensure that this park will serve us all.

We are working with the parks department and the community to plan and build a beautiful park for all. All are welcome and wanted on our journey to bring everyone access to the community, belonging and outdoors we all deserve.