Rotarians are caring people. They are also people of action. The history of Can-Do Playgrounds in Delaware was begun by a group of caring Rotarians in the early 2000’s. members from a group of six clubs in the Wilmington area came together to consider projects to celebrate the Centennial of Rotary International in 2005. Rotary members celebrate through service and fellowship and the vetting process for that original project was filled with several worthwhile service concepts. One project stood head and shoulders above the others: a special playground and activity area for special needs kids that was suggested by Rotarian Ron Nordheimer. 

The vision then was that our state needed one or more facilities to better meet the needs of children and families of all abilities by strengthening and expanding inclusive play areas that focus on physical, cognitive, communicative, social/emotional, and sensory development of the whole child. That is still a need and a driver of our activity. That original project was very quickly and enthusiastically adopted as the centennial vehicle.

It was decided that the most productive and transparent way to raise funds and interact with all stakeholders was to create a dedicated nonprofit to oversee the project and manage the Rotary involvement in the construction and maintenance of the facility. Rotarian Tom Talley stepped forward to lead the organization. Tom will always be considered the father of the Can-Do movement. Even the name came from Tom’s wife Betty. Rotarian and State Representative Bob Valihura successfully created a collaboration with the Division of Parks and Recreation, including the Rotary project on the land set aside for a playground as part of the new Alapocas Run State Park just north of Wilmington. The resulting public-private partnership led to the original Can-Do Playground, which opened in 2007. 

Inspired by the enthusiastic community response and the great need for such a facility throughout Delaware, a second group of six Rotary clubs from south-central Delaware formed a second nonprofit with the vision of another Can-Do Playground. The result was a collaboration with the City of Milford to build the Can-Do playground at Milford at the Tony Silicato Memorial Park. The Can-Do momentum gained steam with a second successful opening. The Rotary Club of Middletown-Odessa-Townsend, Delaware caught the Can-Do fever and immediately developed a project in collaboration with the City of Middletown to serve that rapidly growing part of the state. They proudly celebrated the 2018 opening of Delaware’s third Can-Do Playground at Middletown’s Charles E. Price Memorial Park.

Now, the torch has been passed to the Sussex County, Delaware Rotary clubs to provide this important resource to that very quickly developing region. Seven clubs from throughout Sussex County have come together to for a new nonprofit organization, Sussex Rotary Can-Do Playground, Inc., a registered 501-c-3 corporation. The group is working with partners to conceive, develop, fund and open Delaware’s latest Can-Do facility at the new Stephen P. Hudson Park on land donated by our newest collaborator, The Sussex County Land Trust. Rotarians throughout the state are excited and energized to continue the vision and grow the movement.