Celebrating Inclusion, Growth, and Recreation with Three Rivers Park District
As a non-profit organization, Reach for Resources takes pride in establishing and maintaining strong community partnerships. Since June 2019, Reach has partnered with Three Rivers Park District to provide inclusion services for children, teens, and adults with disabilities who participate in their recreation programming.
Three Rivers Park District is classified as a special park district, meaning that it is separate from county, city, and state parks. With over 27,000 acres of land in Hennepin, Carver, Dakota, Scott, and Ramsey counties, the parks district is committed to both preserving the natural features of the land and developing engaging, accessible park spaces and recreational programming for the surrounding communities to enjoy.
Jessica Allen, Coordinator of the Outdoor Recreation and Education Department at Three Rivers Park District, shared her perspective on the benefits of partnering with Reach. As their recreation programming expanded, the need for inclusion services grew too. By teaming up with Reach, they were able to offer these services to more participants across a wider range of programs. Jessica highlighted that this partnership has opened the door for many children, who might not have otherwise had the chance, to fully engage in recreation activities throughout the metro area.
Jessica emphasized the knowledge, creativity, and flexibility of our staff creates a collaborative environment where learning thrives. As a large, diverse, and ever-changing organization, Three Rivers Park District strives to be responsive to the needs of the populations they serve. When staff at Three Rivers have questions about inclusion practices or accessibility, they are able to use Reach as a resource.
When a unique inclusion need arises, Reach can bring on specialized staff to accommodate their request. Our focus on providing trained, compassionate, and diverse staff for inclusion work has ensured that participants have a positive and uplifting experience at Three Rivers Park District events and programs.
As both organizations continue to grow, Jessica looks forward to seeing how the partnership will evolve in the future. This spring, she attended the Reach Family & Friends Event on behalf of Three Rivers Park District to accept the 2024 Reach Community Partner of the Year Award. “Hearing stories from the Reach community [at the event] about self-advocacy and independent living was very powerful and opened my eyes,” she mentioned.
Outside of providing inclusion services through Reach, Three Rivers Park District has a strong commitment to ensuring accessibility is a top priority in their programming.
Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend any Three Rivers Park District recreation program. Rather than focusing solely on accommodations, they strive to design programming to empower all participants, while still being responsive to needs of attendees. They also provide summer camp opportunities for children with cognitive and physical disabilities and are continually expanding their recreation opportunities for people of all abilities.
Through partnerships with organizations like Three Rivers Park District, we are able to provide the best services possible for people with disabilities. We are continually grateful for their flexibility, warmth, and commitment to inclusion. To read more about Three Rivers Parks District, visit https://www.threeriversparks.org.