Fundraising has launched for a new playground at Riverview Park in the North Chattanooga and Riverview Communities. The Hope Included Foundation is naming Riverview Park as the first project to be funded by the foundation. The fundraising campaign kicked off at Riverview Park after the 11th annual July 4th Riverview Parade.
Nicolle McCoy founded Hope Included in honor of her daughter, Hope, who passed away unexpectedly in August 2019. Hope had a rare syndrome, Xia-Gibbs, and she was extremely involved in the Normal Park Elementary School community.
Ms. McCoy announced her foundation’s project and told Hope’s story to a crowd of over one hundred community members on Sunday morning.
Tiffany Phillips, a board member of Hope Included, said, “The board is excited to announce its first project and bring an inclusive playground to the community where Hope lived and played.”
At the event, Lindsay Hill, senior VP for PlayCore’s Play & Park Structures brand, announced that the project would receive their funding assistance and be named as a National Demonstration Site for inclusive play and children’s physical fitness.
Renderings of the new playground design were displayed and can be viewed on the foundation website, www.hopeincluded.org. Donations can also be made through the website where volunteer opportunities and funding updates will be announced. The fundraising goal is one million dollars by the end of 2021, with playground completion in Spring 2022.