MASSILLON – Ben Gulley believes kids with special needs should have more places to go in Stark County that are tailored to their enjoyment and lifestyle.
Gulley said his 6-year-old son, Gabriel, has autism, so he’s got a huge heart for those with disabilities. He wants to build a 15,000- to 20,000-square-foot fun zone on a vacant lot near the Massillon Recreation Center for youths and their families.
“A lot of parks and entertainment centers say ‘inclusive,’ but that’s not always the case,” Gulley said. “I don’t want any kid (with special needs) to come in and not have something to do.”
Indoor playground equipment, sensory items, small amusement rides and soft climbers or slides, in the form of a pirate ship, spaceship and dinosaur, will be part of the proposed free park along Cherry Road NW.
Although a name for the park has not been decided, Gulley said a couple of ideas being tossed around are “Gabe’s World” and “Little Stimmies.” Autistic stimming refers to repetitive movements or sounds, such as hand flapping, rocking or repeating phrases, that can help regulate individual emotions.
“This won’t just be a small, regular kind of place — but something really big,” said Gulley, who said he already has dozens of items and equipment in storage to be part of the site.
The Jackson Township resident owns and operates Appliances & More in Massillon, as well as Petty’s Marine at Meyers Lake Plaza Shopping Center.
His daughter, Lana, 11, said she’s excited to see her dad’s park idea come to fruition. She also wants to be involved.
“It’s cool. Me and my friends will do the snack bar,” Lana said.
Proposed Massillon park for special-needs kids
The indoor park will be able to host birthday parties and family-related events for kids, according to Gulley, noting that the center will be self-funded. It is expected to cost about $1.5 million to build.
“Once I have the doors open, I’ll consider taking donations,” said Gulley, noting his frequent frustration as a parent while at entertainment centers that don’t cater to youths who have personal challenges.
“It’ll be nice to have a (dedicated) place where all (special needs) kids can go,” he said.
Gulley has formed a nonprofit group to help promote and build the park called Bennie’s Battles Autism Foundation.
The city is working to sell an approximately one-acre property behind the Massillon Recreation Center, 505 Erie St. N, and adjacent to Regal Theater, 175 Cherry Road NW, for $1 to accommodate Gulley’s planned park project.
The goal is to break ground in the spring on constructing the park, which should take about six months to complete, Gulley said.
Mayor Jamie Slutz said he’s on board with Gulley’s pitch of a new park in Massillon, saying he’s excited for kids and families in the region.
“Each of us either knows a child with special needs, or has a family member with special needs,” Slutz said. “So this project impacts everyone and will be a huge benefit to Massillon.
Reach Steven at steven.grazier@indeonline.com. On Twitter: @sgrazierINDE
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Proposed indoor park in Massillon would cater to children with special needs
Reporting by Steven M. Grazier, Massillon Independent / The Repository
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