Playing Together

Cars lined the parking lot and spilled over into the street as kids and families poured into Manthey Park last Monday to play together.
Kids tore through the park and played together just before settling down to listen to several speakers during the inclusive playground and Miracle Field opening ceremonies.
They sat intently and listened as those who helped make the park a reality.
The idea began as a dream between Amanda Gislason and Missy Ahrens, who both have children with down syndrome. Together the two formed the We All Play initiative and worked closely with Tim Truelson and Owatonna Parks and Rec to make their dream a reality. The initiative raised $1.1 million over four years.
"I never had a doubt that we would get here," Ahrens said. "I knew we had an amazing community backing us, a resourceful navigator in Tim Truelson guiding the way, and two moms full of unending passion and love fueling the fire to keep this thing moving."
Ahrens described the challenges they faced in getting the project greenlit and getting funding from more than 300 community members. In the end, the community embraced the idea.
"Every child deserves the opportunity to play and just as important, every parent and grandparent should have the opportunity to be able to play with their children and grandchildren," she said. "Inclusion has the power to change lives."
"This project has been an unbelievable journey," GIslason said. "There are no greater teachers of love and acceptance than special children and I hope that is what this place will be for everyone: a place of love and acceptance and inclusion."
Following the ribbon-cutting, the audience migrated over to the Miracle Field for the inaugural ballgame, complete with hotdogs and beverages. Kids took the field, including Ahren's daughter Miley and Gislason's son Gunnar who throw out the ceremonial first pitch.