SEASPAR brings special recreation programs to Lisle rec center

When SEASPAR Executive Director Susan Friend looks at the area and out the windows of the new dedicated space the special recreation organization has at the Lisle Park District Recreation Center, she throws her arms out wide and smiles. "Wow," she says as much for herself as for others to hear.

"We needed more space to continue to meet the communities' needs, and Lisle stepped up," Friend said.

Within the 2,000-square-foot space, the South East Association for Special Parks and Recreation has a great multipurpose room and its first multisensory room.

Large windows open to views of Lisle Community Park. With the space having its own entrance and adjacent parking, it is easy to see why Friend is thrilled with the opportunities the facility offers SEASPAR and its ongoing service to individuals with special needs.

"We are truly excited about this facility," Friend said.

SEASPAR's mission statement is to "enable participants to discover abilities, achieve potential and realize dreams."

The first thing checked off SEASPAR's wish list to help with that mission was the installation of a multisensory room it calls Wonders.

"We had a dream of creating a sensory room for folks with autism (and) other sensory integration problems and (it) is proving to be effective for people with dementia," Friend said.

The SEASPAR staff researched many features before undertaking the project for Wonders. Generous donations were set aside waiting for the creation of the unique multisensory room.

Now a reality, the room may be tailored to different opportunities. Muted white walls allow fiber optical tubes to add bubbles of color. Projected on the floor, a high-tech image of a pool ripples when a child dips their toe into the scene, or leaves wave when a hand passes through the almost-magical illusion.

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SEASPAR brings special recreation programs to Lisle rec center