Berthoud Adaptive Park: A Mother’s Love Transforms a Community into a Haven of Inclusive Play

LOVELAND, Colo. – In a world where every parent strives to give their children "the whole world," Lauren Bowling of Loveland, Colorado, has literally built a world for her son, Miles, and countless other children. What began as a heartfelt desire for her 9-year-old son, Miles, who lives with cerebral palsy and relies on a wheelchair, to simply play alongside his brothers, has blossomed into the magnificent $1.6 million Berthoud Adaptive Park. This groundbreaking facility, which recently opened its gates, stands as a vibrant testament to community spirit, unwavering determination, and the profound belief that play should know no bounds.

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The park, located at 885 Tenderfoot Drive, is far more than just a playground; it’s a meticulously designed landscape of joy, freedom, and accessibility. From its red barn-like structures to its innovative play features, it has been crafted to ensure that children of all abilities can explore, laugh, and create memories together, rather than being confined to separate, often isolated, spaces. Its opening this month was met with hundreds of eager families, their cheers, shrieks, and smiles echoing the collective triumph of a community’s shared vision.

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A Dream Realized: The Main Facts

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The Berthoud Adaptive Park is a beacon of inclusive design, brought to life through an extraordinary community fundraising effort spearheaded by Lauren Bowling and her family. Their journey, marked by perseverance and the charming simplicity of lemonade stands, culminated in a facility that sets a new standard for accessible recreation.

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Key highlights of this monumental achievement include:

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• Visionary Leadership: Driven by Lauren Bowling’s love for her son, Miles, the project aimed to create a fully integrated play space where Miles, who has cerebral palsy, could interact seamlessly with his siblings and peers.

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• Staggering Fundraising Success: The Bowling family, alongside a dedicated community, raised an astonishing $1.6 million. A significant portion, over $50,000, was generated through humble yet powerful lemonade stands, affectionately known as "Smiles Lemonade Stands," symbolizing the grassroots nature of the initiative.

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• Cutting-Edge Inclusive Design: The park boasts an array of thoughtfully designed features, including wheelchair-accessible swings, swings equipped with secure harnesses, play structures integrated with wide ramps for easy wheelchair access, and innovative camera-activated games that reliably respond to all users, unlike traditional motion-activated systems. Railings and handlebars are strategically placed throughout, ensuring stability and support, while a slide with a transfer seat allows for safe and easy transitions. Shaded picnic areas, a permanent lemonade stand, and even a DJ booth complete the vibrant atmosphere.

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• Community-Wide Impact: The park serves not only the Berthoud community but also families from surrounding areas, providing a desperately needed resource for children with diverse physical abilities. Its integrated design fosters a sense of belonging and mutual understanding among all users.

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• Emotional Resonance: The park’s opening has evoked profound emotional responses from parents and children alike, many of whom are experiencing true inclusive play for the very first time. Testimonials speak to the "life-changing" impact of a space where every child is truly seen and accommodated.

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• A Model for the Future: The Berthoud Adaptive Park stands as a powerful example of what can be achieved when a community rallies around a cause, demonstrating the potential for widespread adoption of truly inclusive public spaces.

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The Chronology of a Vision: Five Years of Dedication

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The journey to create the Berthoud Adaptive Park was a marathon, not a sprint, spanning over five years and marked by initial challenges, burgeoning hope, and relentless effort.

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The Spark of an Idea: A Mother’s Simple Wish

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The seed for the Berthoud Adaptive Park was planted over half a decade ago, born from Lauren Bowling’s poignant observation of her son, Miles. "You try and give your kids the whole world," she reflected, encapsulating the universal parental desire. For Miles, this "world" simply meant the ability to play with his brothers, something that felt increasingly out of reach in their immediate community. At the time, the closest truly accessible playgrounds were a daunting 45-minute drive away in Fort Collins, Greeley, or Westminster – a significant barrier for spontaneous, everyday play. Miles, who is cognitively and verbally unaffected by his cerebral palsy, simply wanted to join in the fun, a desire that fueled his mother’s resolve.

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Early Obstacles and a Catalyst for Change

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When the Bowling family first moved to a new development in Berthoud, Lauren proactively reached out to the developers, Edwards Development, to inquire about accessible features within the neighborhood’s planned recreational spaces. The response was initially modest: an offer to install a single swing with a harness. However, the estimated price tag of $9,000 for this one feature presented a new challenge. Rather than being deterred, Lauren saw an opportunity. She offered to raise the funds herself, a proposition that unexpectedly ignited a spark of partnership. The developer, moved by her dedication, made a pivotal offer: "If you do that, I will match you dollar for dollar, and I will install it for free." This commitment transformed a small request into a collaborative endeavor.

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The Birth of "Smiles Lemonade Stands"

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Inspired by the developer’s pledge, Lauren decided to start small, leveraging a local event. "The neighborhood garage sale was coming up, and I said, ‘Let’s just start small with a lemonade stand,’" she recounted. This seemingly modest beginning in July 2021 proved to be anything but. That first "Smiles Lemonade Stand" astonishingly raised $11,000, far exceeding expectations and demonstrating the immediate community support for their cause.

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Building Momentum: A Community Rallies

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The initial success was not a fluke; it was a powerful indicator of a shared community need and a burgeoning collective spirit. The "Smiles Lemonade Stands" became an annual tradition, growing in scale and impact:

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• 2021: $11,000 raised.

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• 2022: $13,000 raised.

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• 2023: $17,000 raised.

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• 2024: $13,000 raised.

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In total, these stands contributed over $50,000 to the project. However, the fundraising effort extended far beyond the Bowling family’s front yard. Miles himself became a powerful advocate, taking to stages and speaking to groups, eloquently explaining "why it was so important to him." Other children in the community, inspired by Miles’s story and the visible impact of the lemonade stands, set up their own stands to contribute. The remaining, substantial portion of the $1.6 million came from a combination of generous individual donations and strategic grants, as detailed on the project’s dedicated website. The success of the fundraising was so comprehensive that Miles and his brothers, in a sweet twist of fate, were even a little disappointed to learn they wouldn’t need to host annual lemonade stands for the park anymore.

Scaling the Vision: From a Swing to a Park

The developers, initially Edwards Development and later Farmstead, were deeply moved by the Bowling family’s initiative and the overwhelming community response. They quickly realized the vision extended far beyond a single accessible swing. They expressed a desire to build something much more significant for the community, offering a larger plot of land and connecting Lauren with Star Playgrounds, a renowned firm specializing in inclusive park design. This partnership was crucial, transforming a dream of a few accessible features into a comprehensive, state-of-the-art adaptive park.

Design and Construction: Collaboration and Expertise

Working with Star Playgrounds, the design process focused on integrating features that cater to a wide spectrum of physical and developmental needs. The goal was to create a space that was not merely ADA-compliant but genuinely inclusive, where children of varying abilities could engage simultaneously and equally. The collaboration ensured that every element, from the ground surfacing to the height of the play structures, contributed to a seamless and joyful play experience.

The Grand Opening: A Day of Tears and Triumph

The culmination of these five years of dedication arrived with the park’s grand opening this month. It was a day filled with palpable emotion, from joyful shouts of children to tears of gratitude from parents. Brad Steward, a father from Longmont, brought his 13-year-old son, Leo, who also has cerebral palsy and dystonia and uses a wheelchair. Steward shared a moment of profound personal significance: "It was the first time Leo had ever been that high on a play structure." Overwhelmed, he admitted, "I never thought I’d get emotional at a playground opening, but… this is truly life-changing." He eagerly anticipates the day all three of his children can play together, echoing the sentiment that "everyone should be included, regardless of abilities."

Lauren Bowling, reflecting on the arduous journey during the ribbon-cutting ceremony, emotionally articulated the collective effort: "I am just a mom who asked a question, and 1,001 people said, ‘Yes, how can we help?’ and then you kept pushing me and reminded me how important this all is." She concluded with a triumphant statement, precisely timed: "Here we are as Miles asked me to ask Siri last night, five years, one month and 19 days later… and we get to play."

Supporting Data: The Anatomy of Inclusive Play

The Berthoud Adaptive Park’s success lies not just in its fundraising, but in the meticulous planning and innovative design that went into every square foot. It is a masterclass in creating an environment where accessibility is not an afterthought but the foundational principle.

Unpacking the Features: Designed for Everyone

The park’s comprehensive suite of features demonstrates a deep understanding of diverse play needs:

• Wheelchair-Accessible Swing: This allows children using wheelchairs to roll directly onto a platform and experience the exhilaration of swinging, often independently by pulling a rope, as Miles himself proudly demonstrated.
• Swings with Harnesses: Catering to children requiring extra trunk support or security, these swings ensure safe and comfortable participation.
• Ramped Play Structures: Instead of steps or ladders, wide, gentle ramps connect various levels of play structures, enabling seamless access for wheelchairs, walkers, and children with mobility challenges. This integration ensures all children can reach the highest points of play together.
• Camera-Activated Games: A brilliant innovation, these games respond to presence rather than specific motion, eliminating the frustration often experienced by wheelchair users with traditional motion sensors that may not register their movements.
• Ubiquitous Railings and Handlebars: Strategically placed throughout the park, these provide crucial support for balance and mobility, aiding children with gross motor skill challenges or those simply needing a handhold.
• Slide with Transfer Seat: This feature allows children to transfer from a wheelchair or assistive device onto the slide independently or with minimal assistance, ensuring everyone can experience the thrill of sliding.
• Shaded Areas with Picnic Tables: Recognizing the importance of comfort and respite, ample shaded zones with picnic tables provide spaces for rest, snacks, and social interaction, crucial for children who may tire more easily or need protection from the sun.
• Permanent Lemonade Stand and DJ Booth: These elements foster community engagement and continued fundraising opportunities, echoing the project’s origins. The "Smiles Lemonade Stand" remains a central, symbolic feature.
• Unitary Surfaces: The entire park utilizes unitary surfaces, such as poured-in-place rubber or turf, which are smooth, firm, and stable, ideal for wheelchairs, walkers, and children with balance issues, while also providing impact absorption.

Expert Insights on Inclusive Design

Erin Starr, CEO of Star Playgrounds and the park’s designer, alongside her father, Mark Ashland, an owner of the company, emphasized the core principles behind truly accessible playgrounds. They highlighted that the most important features extend beyond just ramps. Essential elements include:

• Ramps: To make everything accessible, ensuring vertical mobility throughout the play space.
• Fencing: To provide safety and containment, particularly for children who may wander or have sensory sensitivities.
• Ground-Level Based Play: Offering numerous activities that can be enjoyed from a seated position or without needing to climb, ensuring engagement for all.
• Unitary Surfaces: As mentioned, providing a smooth, consistent, and safe ground cover.
• Shade: Critical for comfort, especially for children who may be sensitive to heat or sunlight, and to prolong play time.

Starr also noted that the park is designed for kids of varying abilities and ages, ensuring that they can utilize different features as they grow older, making it a long-term community asset.

The Broader Landscape of Accessibility

While the Berthoud Adaptive Park is unique in its comprehensive, integrated approach, it is part of a growing trend towards greater accessibility in public spaces. Lauren Bowling noted that when she began her quest over five years ago, truly accessible options were scarce. Since then, Berthoud’s Town Park has undergone renovations to add an ADA-accessible playground, and in 2025, Loveland’s Willow Bend Park opened with several accessible features. These developments signify a positive shift, yet the Berthoud Adaptive Park stands out for its scale, its integrated design philosophy, and its origin story rooted in profound community effort.

Official Responses: A Community’s Endorsement

The opening of the Berthoud Adaptive Park was not just a celebration for the Bowling family, but a moment of pride and recognition for local leaders and the broader community.

Mayor Karspeck’s Commendation

Berthoud Mayor William Karspeck delivered a heartfelt address during the ribbon-cutting ceremony, specifically acknowledging the transformative power of a single family’s dedication. "The Bowlings showed how much impact a single family can have on an entire community," Mayor Karspeck stated. He powerfully articulated the park’s significance: "Because of you, children who may have once had to watch from the sidelines now have a place designed for them to join their friends, laugh, explore and play together." His words underscored the profound shift the park represents – from exclusion to full inclusion.

Developers’ Pivotal Role

While specific quotes from the developers (Edwards Development and Farmstead) were not provided in the original text, their actions speak volumes. Their initial offer to match funds, their subsequent decision to offer a larger plot of land, and their connection of Lauren Bowling to Star Playgrounds demonstrate a deep commitment to the project. This partnership between community advocates and commercial developers highlights a powerful model for bringing large-scale public amenities to fruition, showing that corporate entities can be integral partners in social initiatives.

Designer’s Vision

Erin Starr of Star Playgrounds reiterated the company’s commitment to creating truly inclusive spaces. Her emphasis on ramps, ground-level play, unitary surfaces, and shade reflects a professional understanding of the practical necessities for a successful adaptive park. Her statement that the facility is "truly for kids of varying abilities and ages" and that "they will be able to use different features as they get older" speaks to the longevity and thoughtful design of the park, ensuring it remains a valuable resource for years to come.

Implications: A Blueprint for an Inclusive Future

The Berthoud Adaptive Park is more than just a playground; it is a powerful symbol and a tangible blueprint for a more inclusive society. Its implications stretch far beyond the town limits of Berthoud, offering lessons and inspiration for communities nationwide.

A Model for Inclusive Development

The park serves as a compelling case study for urban planners, recreation departments, and community leaders. It demonstrates that truly inclusive public spaces are not only possible but can be brought to life through dedicated community action and strategic partnerships. The integrated design, which eschews separate "special needs" areas in favor of universal access, challenges conventional approaches to accessibility, advocating for environments where every child is inherently included. This model encourages other communities to look beyond minimum ADA compliance and strive for genuinely integrated and universally designed spaces.

Shifting Mindsets and Fostering Empathy

The very existence of the Berthoud Adaptive Park helps to shift societal perceptions of disability. By creating a space where children of all abilities play side-by-side, it fosters empathy, understanding, and acceptance from a young age. Children who might not otherwise interact with peers using wheelchairs or with different physical capabilities now have a natural environment to build friendships and learn from each other. This normalizes differences and celebrates the diverse ways children play and engage with the world. Brad Steward’s emotional reaction, seeing his son Leo experience a play structure like never before, underscores this profound shift in lived experience. "Everyone should be included, regardless of abilities," he powerfully declared, a sentiment that the park embodies.

The Power of Parental Advocacy and Grassroots Movements

Lauren Bowling’s journey is a testament to the extraordinary impact of parental advocacy. Her unwavering determination, sparked by a mother’s love, demonstrates how a single family’s vision can galvanize an entire community and lead to monumental change. The story of "Smiles Lemonade Stands" highlights the power of grassroots initiatives – how small, consistent efforts can snowball into a multi-million dollar project. It empowers other parents facing similar challenges to believe in their ability to instigate significant, positive change within their own communities.

Economic and Social Benefits

Beyond its direct social impact, the Berthoud Adaptive Park is poised to bring economic and social benefits to the region. As a destination park, it will attract families from neighboring towns and even further afield, boosting local businesses and tourism. Socially, it strengthens community bonds, providing a central hub for families to connect, share experiences, and build a more cohesive and supportive environment. The permanent lemonade stand and DJ booth hint at ongoing community events and gatherings, further embedding the park into the fabric of local life.

A Legacy of Giving Back: Miles’s Future Vision

The story doesn’t end with the park’s opening. Miles Bowling, the inspiring 9-year-old at the heart of the project, has already articulated his desire to continue the annual lemonade stands at the park’s permanent "Smiles Lemonade Stand." However, his vision has expanded: he wants the proceeds to benefit other causes he is passionate about. Last Saturday, for example, funds raised went towards Freedom Service Dogs, an organization close to his heart as it honors his own service dog, Ravioli. This forward-looking generosity underscores the lasting impact of the project – it has not only created a space for play but has also nurtured a spirit of philanthropy and community service in the very child who inspired it all. Miles’s simple yet profound statement, "It is the best thing ever," captures the essence of this extraordinary achievement, affirming that truly inclusive play is indeed the greatest gift.

The Berthoud Adaptive Park stands as a vibrant monument to human ingenuity, compassion, and the unwavering belief that every child deserves the opportunity to play, laugh, and thrive, fully integrated into the world around them. It is a world that Lauren Bowling, with the help of countless others, has indeed given to her son and to generations of children to come.

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