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Unique Morgan’s Wonderland
Theme Park to Construct
World’s First Ultra-Accessible
Splash Park
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San
Antonio, TX – November 2015 / Newsmaker Alert / Morgan’s
Wonderland officials broke ground Tuesday (November 10) for a multi-million-dollar
expansion, Morgan’s Inspiration Island, the world’s first ultra-accessible
splash park where guests of all ages and abilities can get wet and have
fun together.
“In
many ways, creating Morgan’s Inspiration Island feels a lot like it did
when our team designed and built Morgan’s Wonderland with special-needs
individuals in mind|–|it’s
never been done before,” said Gordon Hartman, CEO of The Gordon Hartman
Family Foundation.
“For
the past two years, we’ve been working with water park consultants from
Texas, Arizona, Florida and even Canada as well as local doctors and special-needs
therapists. Now we’re ready to begin laying pipe, installing pumps and
building facilities with a target completion of spring 2017. We believe
this new attraction will be tremendously popular because even kids and
adults in wheelchairs will be able to have splashy fun in the South Texas
sun.”
Morgan’s
Inspiration Island, which will be situated between Morgan’s Wonderland
and the STAR (South Texas Area Regional) Soccer Complex, will overlook
the theme park’s 8-acre catch-and-release fishing lake. Guests of both
the splash park and theme park will enter through the Morgan’s Wonderland
Welcome Center.
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Six
major elements will comprise the tropically themed paradise inspired by
Hartman and his wife Maggie’s 22-year-old daughter, Morgan, who deals with
both cognitive and physical challenges. “We decided to call our new attraction
Morgan’s Inspiration Island because Morgan truly has been the catalyst
for every project we’ve pursued to help the special-needs community,” Gordon
Hartman noted.
Maggie
Hartman added that “Morgan’s Inspiration Island – like Morgan’s Wonderland
– will concentrate on inclusion and inspire guests with special needs to
do things previously thought to be impossible. Those without disabilities
and those with, including individuals in wheelchairs and guests with hearing
and visual impairments, will be able to play alongside each other and gain
a greater understanding of each other.”
The
River Boat Adventure ride will twist and turn more than an eighth of a
mile through a jungle setting with bird and animal sounds in the background.
Five water play areas – Hang 10 Harbor, Rainbow Reef, Shipwreck Island,
Castaway Bay and Calypso Cove – will offer a variety of splashy elements
such as raintrees, falls, pools, geysers, jets, water cannons and tipping
buckets. Just like Morgan’s Wonderland, every element will be wheelchair-accessible,
and waterproof wristbands with RFID technology will be available so parents
can go to a Location Station and easily ascertain the whereabouts of their
children and other members of their party.
Hartman
paid special tribute to philanthropist Harvey E. Najim, chairman of the
2015 Morgan’s Wonderland Capital Campaign that’s raising funds for Morgan’s
Inspiration Island as well as for a larger, multi-functional building to
house The Academy at Morgan’s Wonderland, a school next to the theme park
for students with special needs ages 12 to 24.
“We’ll
never be able to adequately thank Harvey Najim for his passion when it
comes to doing great things for people with disabilities and special needs,”
Hartman said. “Harvey is truly a world champion when it comes to generosity.
Those whose spirits will be lifted by Morgan’s Inspiration Island have
Harvey to thank for his resolve in securing the funds to take a great idea
and make it reality.”
Hartman
noted that Morgan’s Inspiration Island is about a year-and-a-half away
from opening, “but we have to start now because so much equipment must
be installed underground before the splash park can take shape above ground.
There’s also quite a bit of complexity involved. For example, we’ll have
the capability of heating water in some areas so guests with sensitivity
to cold can still splash and play.
“In
addition, we’re working with university researchers to develop special
waterproof wheelchairs. Our guests in expensive motorized wheelchairs can’t
afford to get them wet, so we’re planning on having special Morgan’s Inspiration
Island wheelchairs available along with spacious private areas where guests
can be lifted out of their wheelchairs into our waterproof wheelchairs.”
Hartman
further pointed out that the splash park has been designed with water conservation
in mind. Water used in the various play elements will be continuously filtered
and recirculated, and it will be stored in huge underground tanks when
the park is not in operation.
Meanwhile,
Morgan’s Wonderland, which is celebrating its 5th birthday all year long,
is preparing for “A
Wonderland Christmas” with special entertainment and holiday decorations
on select evenings beginning the day after Thanksgiving, Nov. 27.
The
latest information on Morgan’s Wonderland admissions, operating days/hours
of operation and special events/celebrations can be found at MorgansWonderland.com.
The 25-acre theme park is located at 5223 David Edwards Drive in Northeast
San Antonio a half-mile west of IH 35 at the intersection of Wurzbach Parkway
and Thousand Oaks Drive.
Featuring
more than 25 wheelchair-accessible attractions including rides, playgrounds
and gardens, Morgan’s Wonderland is the center of a family fun destination
known as Wonderland, Texas. The destination also includes Toyota
Field, the 8,000-seat home of the San
Antonio Scorpions pro soccer team; the STAR Soccer Complex for tournament
and league play; and The Academy at Morgan’s Wonderland (MorgansWonderland.academy).
The
newest addition to Wonderland, Texas is the CRIT (Children’s
Rehabilitation Institute of TeletónUSA), which serves children
with neuromusculoskeletal disabilities ages 18 and younger. Go to CRITUSA.org
for more details.
Contact:|
Bob
McCullough, APR
Communications
Director
Morgan’s
Wonderland
210-637-3418
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