The Day of Caring project for Mastin House is unique on several levels. The effort is not a simple one-time event but rather an elaborate, carefully planned and dynamic project. It all started with a vision. CLO owned a piece of land - about a half an acre - behind Mastin House. It was not being used for any purpose other than for a storage shed. However, the area was naturally beautiful, with large majestic trees that kept everything cool during hot summer days and wild strawberries peeking through the grass. It was a very inviting, yet undeveloped space. Yolanda Hargett, Volunteer Coordinator for CLO, had a vision of transforming this area into a beautiful and therapeutic private park for the individuals served by CLO where they could enjoy nature in a serene environment and participate in therapeutic and fun activities. Yolanda shared this vision with Dave Contag, a landscape engineer with DLR Group and volunteer coordinator for Day of Caring; Dave and his colleagues
immediately responded and helped develop the vision further, including leading several brainstorming sessions with CLO teachers and managers that resulted in the creation of drawings and phase plans for the various components of the park. The ultimate vision is to have an accessible path meandering through the green spaces thus allowing for easy strolling around the park to enjoy nature and the view. Along the path people could stop to participate in "activity nodes" that are designed especially for persons with developmental disabilities. There is also a picnic patio in the middle to enjoy a meal or snack, or just to relax. DLR Group has been the guiding force in the development of Mastin Park and this will be their 4th year of volunteering for CLO during Day of Caring. In the first year, they designed and completed full landscaping around another one of CLO's homes - Marty Lane, complete with a paved sitting patio with a nice bench in the front, as well as a water garden on the back patio.
Since then, DLR Group has led the way in developing Mastin Park through yearly Day of Caring projects. In year one, fencing was installed to make the park a little safer for the individuals and a path was developed from the parking lot to the picnic patio. In the second year, two accessible planters were built on a paved patio and the path was extended to this activity node. Additionally, two exercise stations that were originally part of an eagle scout project many years ago were refurbished and made usable again. This year, the plan invoves adding a second activity area that has "sensory boxes" for the individuals to enjoy and explore. Each of the three boxes will have a different substance in them, such as sand in one, water in another, and perhaps smooth rocks or marbles in the third. These will be able to be changed from time to time. The individuals will experience different textures to touch and manipulate. They can build sand castles in one, splash and pour the water, and perhaps find hidden items within the smooth rocks or marbles. This part of the project will be built on a paved patio and the pathway will be extended to this new activity area. USDA/NITC, under the leadership of Ruth Bennett, their Volunteer Coordinator, has been a strong partner in this endeavor for the last 3 years. They have provided the man-power to help implement the vision, often over 40 volunteers per year, while DLR Group has provided the technical expertise and skills. In addition to helping implement the
activity areas, USDA/NITC volunteers have helped with general clean-up of the park and adding more flowers. Several evergreen trees were added in the first year as well. There have been other volunteer agencies involved as well. Last year, FDA helped out with general park clean-up and adding flowers/shrubs around the picnic area. And this year, Quik Trip has joined the team. It has been remarkable to see the teamwork and comradery that has developed among the volunteer agencies who work together so well to bring about wonderful opportunities and outcomes for the individuals served by CLO. One goal that has yet to be accomplished is to switch the path from being made out of AB-3/gravel to concrete so that it is easier to navigate for the individuals who are in heavy wheelchairs. Additionally, we want to extend the path so that it makes a full circle around the park. Then it will be easier in future years to add activity nodes along the path. Unfortunately, the cost of completing this concrete sidewalk is prohibitive. CLO's not-for-profit budget just does have the funds available to complete the sidewalk at this time. It is our hope that others will catch the vision of Mastin Park and be inspired to help provide the funds to complete the sidewalk in the future. Certainly there have been many in-kind and monetary donations for this project in years past. Supporters have included Pavestone, APAC - Kansas, Sturgis Materials, DLR Group, and many individual donors, often fromthe individual volunteers.