NEWS: Morgan's Wonderland to open in San Antonio, TX

[jedimaster1227]

http://themeparks.about.com/b/2010/03/01/morgans-wonderland-park-san-antonio.htm

 

For people with disabilities, it can often be difficult to fully participate in or even gain access to activities for the general public. But at Morgan's Wonderland, which is set to open on April 10 in San Antonio, Texas, it's a requirement that each visiting group have at least one member with special needs. That's because the park has been specially designed to accommodate individuals with disabilities. The nonprofit organization that developed Morgan's Wonderland describes it as "the world's first ultra-accessible family fun park." Attractions will include a train ride with wheelchair-accessible cars, a carousel that's been modified to accommodate guests with wheelchairs, a water play area, an amphitheater for entertainment, a music garden, and other activities. For more information, visit the Morgan's Wonderland site.

 

The park's official website is found here: http://www.morganswonderland.com/

The park's logo

Park map

[SharkTums]

Ugh, I'm so torn on stuff like this. I worked with Special Needs individuals for years and there was this ongoing debate between separating them out or 'mainstreaming' and incorporating them into normal everyday life.

 

Do they need a 'special' park, is it wrong that this 'special' park won't let 'normal' people in!?! What if a 'normal' park didn't let 'special' people in...this is a slippery slope.

[cfc]

Item #12 on the "interactive map" is a "Garden Sanctuary and Memorial Wall"--"for those no longer with us." I wonder who is being memorialized? Do you just sit and meditate on the wall about your own lost loved ones? The "off-road" car ride, with wheelchair-accessible cars, looks like a good idea.

[YoshiFan]

Do they need a 'special' park, is it wrong that this 'special' park won't let 'normal' people in!?! What if a 'normal' park didn't let 'special' people in...this is a slippery slope.

 

I was looking at the FAQ's and they have community days where anyone can go to the park. I know it's not the same as letting anyone visit the park on anyday but I guess they are doing it for crowd control?

[Noxegon]

You could extend the same argument to parks that require every group to include a child - there are a handful like that in the UK, including Gullivers Warrington and Twinlakes Park...

[larrygator]

I have no problem with the concept. The only options for wheelchair confined children who want to enjoy rides in the US are at the Disney parks.

 

It's not like Morgan's Wonderland is taking away an opportunity for able bodied people and creating one just for the disbaled. Since the nature of the rides at this park will have to be gentle I don't this anyone not visiting the park will be missing out on anything.

 

As someone whose best friend's daughter has Cerebral Palsy I hear what Elissa is saying, but I don't consider this a case of mainstreaming versus separation. My friend's bring their daughter to Six Flags on slow days to walk around, get her in a mainstream environment and people watch but she is physically unable to ride anything. Not that my friend's would ever end up in San Antonio, but this park would give their daughter an option to enjoy at least a few rides.

[ArizonaGuy]

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/Grand_opening_of_Morgans_Wonderland_is_a_hit.html

 

Opening of Morgan’s Wonderland is a hit

 

Waiting in the crowd for the opening ceremonies to begin Saturday night at Morgan’s Wonderland, billed as “the world’s first ultra-accessible family fun park,” Kim Katka, 41, of San Antonio already was struggling with her emotions.

 

“It’s absolutely amazing. I’m in tears just being here. There’s nothing like this,” she said, with her twin 17-year-old sons, Jordan and Alexander, at her side in their wheelchairs.

 

“Every time we have to go to some park or theme place, there’s a lot of stress on how it will work out. So we could not wait to come here,” she said of the newly opened park designed for people with special needs.

 

Spread over 25 acres of what recently was an abandoned quarry at Wurzbach Parkway and Thousand Oaks Drive, the park was inspired by Morgan Hartman, the daughter of local builder Gordon Hartman, who raised more than $30 million to build it.

 

And while celebrities including David Robinson and Eva Longoria Parker as well as pastor Buckner Fanning were all on the program Saturday night, it was a tall, red-haired girl who seized the crowd’s heartstrings.

 

“We love you, Morgan,” Hartman said as his daughter appeared next to him on stage for a gentle kiss.

 

“Thank you, Morgan, for opening the eyes of your parents. With your attitude, you’ve done so much for so many people,” he said.

 

While the park had its soft opening last month, almost 2,000 people turned out Saturday night for a close look, and many using wheelchairs and canes and respirators turned out for a test ride.

 

The common sentiment was aptly expressed by Yolanda Montemayor, waiting with her son Charlie.

 

“It’s about time,” she said of finally having a park suitable for children like her son.

[mwm1444]

As someone with 'special needs' (though not ambulatory nor - really - mental), I'm not sure where I stand on this, either. I WISH (wish-wish-wish-wish-wish) that other, bigger parks across the world could match the accessibility/hospitality that this park is clearly striving for, so that integration could be easier.

 

However, as someone who's about to go to a special annual weekend celebrating and supporting children and adults with the same basic condition as I've got (a lot of whom are non-ambulant or rely on a carer to live, basically), I know that if the charity that runs this particular weekend had access to a park like this, it would be an amazing experience.