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Morgan’s Inspiration Island
Morgan’s Wonderland, San Antonio, Texas, has begun construction on a multi-million-dollar expansion. Morgan’s Inspiration Island is billed as the world’s first ultra-accessible splash park where guests of all ages and abilities can get wet and have fun together
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never been done before,” explains Gordon Hartman, CEO of The Gordon Hartman Family Foundation. The worthy amusement park is dedicated to Hartman and his wife Maggie’s 22-year-old daughter Morgan, who deals with both cognitive and physical challenges. Maggie adds that the new facility, like Morgan’s
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Wonderland, will concentrate on inclusion and inspire guests with special needs to do things previously thought to be impossible. “Those without disabilities and those with, including individuals in wheelchairs and guests with hearing and visual impairments, will be able to play alongside each other and gain a greater understanding of each other,” she says. Morgan’s Inspiration Island will overlook the existing park’s
8-acre (3.2 hectare) fishing lake. Six major elements will comprise the tropically-themed mini waterpark, all supplied by WhiteWater. Aquatic engineering is by Aquatic Design & Engineering. Manufactured by Hopkins Rides (part of the WhiteWater
group), the River Boat Adventure ride will twist and turn more than an eighth of a mile through a jungle setting with bird and animal sounds in the background. Five water play areas, including Hang 10 Harbor, Rainbow Reef, Shipwreck Island, Castaway Bay, and Calypso Cove, will offer a variety of
n many ways, creating Morgan’s Inspiration Island feels a lot like it did when our team designed and built Morgan’s Wonderland with special-needs individuals in mind – it’s
Accessible splash park coming to Texas
splashy elements such as rain trees, falls, pools, geysers, jets, water cannons and tipping buckets. Every element will be wheelchair-accessible, but so that guests with expensive motorised wheelchairs don’t get them wet, the Hartman family is working with university researchers to develop special waterproof wheelchairs. Added initiatives include the capability of heating water in some areas so that guests with sensitivity to cold can still splash and play. Each visitor will be issued with waterproof RFID wristbands and, should any party members venture off on their own, then parents will be able to easily ascertain their whereabouts by going to a Location Station. “For the past two years, we’ve been working with waterpark consultants from Texas, Arizona, Florida and Canada as well as local doctors and special-needs therapists,” reveals Hartman. “Now we’re moving forward on laying pipe, installing pumps and building facilities with a target completion of spring 2017.” Encompassing 25 acres of an abandoned quarry in
Northeast San Antonio, the existing Morgan’s Wonderland features more than 25 elements including wheelchair- accessible rides, playscapes, gardens and other family attractions. Since opening in spring 2010, it has welcomed more than 600,000 guests from all 50 US states and 65 other countries.
morganswonderland.com Making it all possible
Gordon Hartman has paid special tribute to philanthropist Harvey E Najim, chairman of the 2015 Morgan’s Wonderland Capital Campaign that’s raising funds for Morgan’s Inspiration Island as well as a building to house a school next to the theme park for students with special needs. “We’ll never be able to adequately thank Harvey for his passion when it comes to doing great things for people with disabilities and special needs,” says Hartman. “He is truly a world champion when it comes to generosity and his resolve in securing the funds to take a great idea and make it reality.” AGC Charities is partnering with local firms to help build
Morgan’s Inspiration Island. As part of the charitable organisation’s annual Operation Opening Doors effort, many construction companies will be donating time, expertise and money to build this first-of-its-kind accessible waterpark. “The capital campaign in support of Morgan's Inspiration Island is going very well,” confirms Hartman. “Because of the success of Morgan's Wonderland, generous individuals and organisations have been keenly interested in helping create Morgan's Inspiration Island, another unique park.
FEBRUARY 2016
TURNING YOUR WORLD AROUND
SCHAAPWEG 18 6063 BA VLODROP THE NETHERLANDS TEL +31 (0) 475-409222 FAX +31 (0) 475-402115
WWW.VEKOMA.COM
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