Bennett’s Village is working to build a multi-generational, all-abilities play space here in Charlottesville and advocating to change the way our community sees inclusion. Bennett’s Village is dedicated to making the world a more inclusive place for ALL to play.

In memorial of Five-year-old Bennett Charles McClurken-Gibney who was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type I, a genetic disorder that causes muscular weakness. Bennett made the world and all who knew him better by his boundless light. Bennett also LOVED to PLAY. His power wheelchair gave him amazing independence. But local parks and playgrounds are not designed to allow folks in wheelchairs to easily play side-by-side with their peers. The closest park that was designed to include kids in wheelchairs is the PARK365 all-abilities playground in Richmond, where he could “run” around just like all the other kids. No part of that park was off limits to him or his wheelchair. We would like to create a similar park in Charlottesville in which kids, parents, and people of all ages and abilities can gather, play, and laugh. This is a massive undertaking that will take all of us. It took a village to care for Bennett, and it will take a village to build this play space. We hope you will join us.