WAUSAU, Wisc., (SPECTRUM NEWS) — Jo Jo’s Jungle, a new, all-inclusive playground in Wausau recently opened. Their mission is for children of all abilities to play alongside their friends and family. So far, it has been a hit with kids.
“There are just smiles the whole time they’re here,” says Annie Teeters of Wausau.
With 23,000 square feet of playing-surface, Jo Jo’s Jungle has something for every child.
“Children of any ability can come and play. They can come here with their friends and there’s always activities for them to do,” says Teeters.
Her own children, Zak and Callie, have a rare chromosome abnormality which confines them to wheelchairs.
“They’re missing part of chromosome three and they have extra chromosome six and they’re the only two in the world with that anomaly,” says Teeters.
Zak and Callie have so far enjoyed the park. Musical instruments, a spinning ride, and a rocking pirate ship are some of the highlights. They also get a special smile when interacting with other kids at the park.
“If we see them kind of looking inquisitively, we’ll say, ‘Come say hi to Zak and Callie.’ They too want to be talked to just like everyone else. To be able to have kids learn about children of different abilities and ask questions…’Why is Zak in a wheelchair? Why is Callie in a wheelchair?’ Just to have that exposure is only going to help everyone continue to grow,” says Teeters.
The park was clearly designed with wheelchairs in mind. In fact, the gigantic welcome sign features two monkeys, one of which is sitting in a wheelchair. That detail was not missed by Patrick Hoerter.
“It’s subtle. I wonder how many people notice it. When we saw it, it just brought tears to our eyes,” says Hoerter.
The tears were because Jo Jo, or Josiah, was Hoerter’s son.
“We always called Jo Jo our little monkey,” says Hoerter.
Jo Jo had a rare genetic disorder called MECPT2 Duplication Syndrome. He also spent much of his life in a wheelchair and would never be able to walk or talk. In 2015, just shy of his third birthday, Jo Jo passed away. His lasting wish was for a playground.
“We promised that to Josiah in his last week and right away approached the city and county’s parks department here in Wausau and they just latched onto the idea,” says Hoerter.
After raising two million dollars and carefully choosing equipment, Jo Jo’s Jungle became a reality.
“Even though you don’t get to experience everything that you might otherwise hope to experience with a child, you just get to really latch onto the major impact they have on their friends and community. Jo Jo really had that,” says Hoerter.
The park’s goal is to enrich social skills, sensory learning, and to promote physical fitness in a safe environment for every child.
“Every day when I come here, I feel like Jo Jo is watching down on us and smiling and making sure that all of his friends are happy,” says Teeters.