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Dear Dedham Voters:
Here is my personal reason to vote for the new Avery School and Dedham High athletic field projects on Tuesday, Jan.19.
My reason is simple. Make the new Avery and the DHS track and fields handicap accessible.
This past Thanksgiving, my sister and I watched the high school Marauders defeat Norwood. We enjoyed watching the game with our 81-year0old mother (DHS Class of 1947). It was a blast seeing the students celebrate a grand victory.
Getting to the field with our mom in a wheelchair was not as pleasant. Like many, we never envisioned ourselves with a family member in a wheelchair. But once it happens, you sure see the world much differently.
Walking along Mt. Vernon Street with a wheelchair was an easy task due to the new handicapped accessible sidewalks. Trying to enter the high school complex at Stone Park was another story. The first entrance proved impassable due to the field incline, broken concrete, the grass and the dirt walkway. We were forced to attempt the second entrance near the concession stand.
Pushing her chair further along Whiting Avenue proved impossible and we were forced onto the street. We soon realized the second park entrance contained yet another road block ~ gravel and more dirt. Our only choice was to carry our mother and her wheelchair! My sister and I had to bend down and literally pick up her wheelchair and carry her over the gravel entrance and continue around the corner of the concession stand to the only small patch of concrete suitable for parking a wheelchair.
Let's bring the new Avery and the DHS field up to code and make them handicap accessible. Please vote Yes on January 19th. We'd like to bring our mom back next year to watch her youngest grandson play lacrosse as a DHS freshman.
Let’s move Dedham forward and have pride in our town.
Susan Butler Walko, Dedham
Dear Dedham Voters:
Here is my personal reason to vote for the new Avery School and Dedham High athletic field projects on Tuesday, Jan.19.
My reason is simple. Make the new Avery and the DHS track and fields handicap accessible.
This past Thanksgiving, my sister and I watched the high school Marauders defeat Norwood. We enjoyed watching the game with our 81-year0old mother (DHS Class of 1947). It was a blast seeing the students celebrate a grand victory.
Getting to the field with our mom in a wheelchair was not as pleasant. Like many, we never envisioned ourselves with a family member in a wheelchair. But once it happens, you sure see the world much differently.
Walking along Mt. Vernon Street with a wheelchair was an easy task due to the new handicapped accessible sidewalks. Trying to enter the high school complex at Stone Park was another story. The first entrance proved impassable due to the field incline, broken concrete, the grass and the dirt walkway. We were forced to attempt the second entrance near the concession stand.
Pushing her chair further along Whiting Avenue proved impossible and we were forced onto the street. We soon realized the second park entrance contained yet another road block ~ gravel and more dirt. Our only choice was to carry our mother and her wheelchair! My sister and I had to bend down and literally pick up her wheelchair and carry her over the gravel entrance and continue around the corner of the concession stand to the only small patch of concrete suitable for parking a wheelchair.
Let's bring the new Avery and the DHS field up to code and make them handicap accessible. Please vote Yes on January 19th. We'd like to bring our mom back next year to watch her youngest grandson play lacrosse as a DHS freshman.
Let’s move Dedham forward and have pride in our town.
Susan Butler Walko, Dedham
