Renewal by Andersen of St. Louis Helps Build Accessible Playground

The first and only accessible playground in the St. Louis area was made possible thanks to Renewal by Andersen of St. Louis and the surrounding community! They were one of a dozen donors who raised money and helped organizers get a $300,000 grant to make a playground accessible in the Sunset Hills suburb.

How Renewal by Andersen of St. Louis got involved is another fun part of this story. Initially, the project stalled due to a lack of contributors. One of the playground organizers, Daryl Huitt, happened to pitch a funding request to a Renewal by Andersen events manager, who said, "You would need to ask our marketing director, Mark Zellinger."

As it turns out, Zellinger and Huitt's family had a previous business relationship. Through this happenstance, the stalled project found new life!

Renewal by Andersen of St. Louis VP of Sales and Operations Austin Birner attended the park's grand opening with his wife, Kylie and son, Declan. "We are so blessed to have children with no limitations; this project really touched our hearts. All kids deserve the opportunity to just be kids," says Birner.

The park features a wheelchair swing and a wheelchair-accessible merry-go-round. It also has special soft surfaces, which make it possible for children in wheelchairs to access the equipment safely.

According to child psychologists, inclusive playgrounds can radically change a child's development. Play is how children learn to relate to each other, follow rules, make friends, understand the world and form identities. And when kids with disabilities feel isolated and different at this formative age, when they’re unable to simply play with other kids, the effects can be long-lasting.

Thank you, Renewal by Andersen of St. Louis, for being Difference Makers!