A Beautiful Day Celebrating Inclusive Fun!
On Wednesday, July 10, 2024, Fox Valley Special Recreation Association (FVSRA) hosted the 26th annual Day in the Park from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at Pottawatomie Park in St. Charles. This “Inclusive Day of Play” provided an opportunity for individuals with and without disabilities to celebrate what makes everyone unique! This year’s event was a resounding success, marked by beautiful weather and inclusive play. This annual event celebrates the spirit of community and inclusivity, bringing together children of all abilities for a day filled with fun and connection.
The initial Day in the Park event, called the “FVSRA All Camp Special Event,” started in 1999 with 150 campers to celebrate National Therapeutic Recreation Week and enhance public awareness of therapeutic recreation programs. This year, it was anticipated that over 1,000 campers with and without disabilities would come from around the Fox Valley region.
Campers attending were from the FVSRA Summer Day Camp and our Member Agency day camps, including St. Charles, Geneva, Batavia, Fox Valley, Sugar Grove, and Oswegoland Park Districts, and the Village of South Elgin Parks and Recreation Department. Activities included a bounce house, obstacle course, slides, games, train rides, mini-games, a live magic and illusion show, treats, and more! For those campers who needed a quiet sensory space, SootheSpace was onsite to provide a safe sensory reset.
The success of this event is a testament to the incredible support we receive from our community. We extend our heartfelt thanks to:
- St. Charles Park District: For providing Pottawatomie Park in St. Charles, Illinois. The perfect venue for our occasion!
- St. Charles Noon Kiwanis Club and Golden K: For their generous grant, which helped fund this event, as well as their volunteerism at the event.
- Rotary Club of Batavia and Rotary Club of Aurora: For their generous grant, which helped fund this event
- Knights of Columbus – Robert H. Weaver Council:For their generous grant, which helped fund this event
- Northwestern Medicine’s TeamNM: Event Volunteers
- Oswegoland Park District: Event Volunteers
- Vistex: Event Volunteers
We were also delighted to have the Boy Scouts Three Fires Council join us, generously providing snow cones and popcorn to help everyone stay cool and enjoy the day.
We would also like to thank the Representatives and their staff that were able to visit us at the event!
- Representative Hernandez & Staff
- Representative Keicher‘s Staff
- Representative Matt Hanson
We are deeply grateful for the support from these organizations, without which this event would not have been possible!
Celebrating Inclusion
This year, over 1,000 children with and without disabilities joined us for an inclusive day of play. It was heartwarming to see participants making new friends, experiencing new activities, and becoming part of a supportive community. FVSRA is dedicated to fostering an environment where all children can thrive. Our Day in the Park event exemplifies our mission, creating opportunities for children of all abilities to connect, play, and celebrate together.
We look forward to seeing everyone next year for another day of fun and inclusion. Thank you once again to all of our volunteers and all our supporters for making Day in the Park 2024 a memorable and joyous occasion! Together, we can continue to create a community where every child is celebrated and included.
