American Tire Distributors Inc. and national non-profit Boundless Playgrounds have officially opened Tread Town, a new inclusive playground at Richard Barry Memorial Park in Huntersville, N.C., where ATD is based.
The playground was primarily funded by a $100,000 grant from ATD, and was constructed to allow children with and without disabilities to play together. It is only the fourth of its kind for the state of North Carolina and the first in the Charlotte area.
“Boundless Playgrounds provide safe, positive places for all children to play, learn and thrive,” said Bill Berry, president and CEO of ATD. “We’ve been a part of the Charlotte region for 75 years and I can’t think of a better way to give back to it than the opening of Tread Town.”
Tread Town’s foundation was constructed from recycled rubber, including approximately 400 recycled tires, creating a surface that allows children and caregivers with and without disabilities to navigate the playground freely and safely.
The playground promotes inclusive, unstructured play with ramped wheelchair access to the highest platforms, and features an exclusive Tread Town tire swing, state-of-the art solid harness swings for children who need additional back support, and a multitude of other cutting-edge fitness and educational-based activities.
ATD announced the plans for the Tread Town playground during its 2009 Annual Charity Golf Classic. It plans to raise additional funds again during its 21st annual Charity Golf Classic this fall to continue its partnership with Boundless Playgrounds and build additional inclusive playgrounds nationally.
