From Lemonade Stands to a $1.6 Million Inclusive Haven: How One Family’s Mission Transformed Play in Northern Colorado

LOVELAND, Colo. — When a new neighborhood development broke ground in Berthoud, Colorado, local mother Lauren Bowling sought a basic amenity that most families take for granted: a playground where her 9-year-old son, Miles, could play alongside his brothers. Born with cerebral palsy and dependent on a wheelchair, Miles was otherwise unaffected cognitively and verbally, yet traditional parks routinely forced him to watch from the sidelines. What began as a mother’s simple inquiry to local real estate developers snowballed into a five-year community-wide endeavor, culminating this month in the grand opening of the Berthoud Adaptive Park.

Spanning a thoughtfully designed red-barn theme at 885 Tenderfoot Drive, the newly opened facility represents a paradigm shift in how public spaces accommodate children of all physical and cognitive capabilities. Funded by an impressive $1.6 million capital campaign—over $50,000 of which was raised entirely through neighborhood lemonade stands operated by Miles and his brothers—the park stands as a testament to grassroots activism, corporate partnership, and the growing demand for truly integrated public infrastructure.

The Genesis of an Inclusive Vision

When the Bowling family first settled in their emerging Berthoud neighborhood, Lauren Bowling initiated conversations with local housing developers regarding the integration of accessible playground equipment. Initially, a developer offered to fund a single harnessed swing, citing a modest $9,000 price tag. However, upon recognizing the broader implications of true accessibility—and the considerable costs associated with specialized commercial play equipment—Bowling committed to bridging the financial gap herself.

The developer agreed to match funds dollar-for-dollar and provide installation labor pro bono, provided Bowling could generate the initial capital. Seizing the opportunity, the Bowling family launched their first neighborhood lemonade stand in July 2021. What was initially conceived as a casual weekend garage sale fundraiser brought in $11,000 in a single day, setting off an extraordinary multi-year fundraising trajectory.

Subsequent annual lemonade stands yielded $13,000 in 2022, $17,000 in 2023, and another $13,000 in 2024. As the financial momentum grew, so did the scope of the project. Developers Edwards Development and later Farmstead expanded their contribution, offering a larger plot of land and connecting Bowling with Star Playgrounds, a specialized firm renowned for designing inclusive public recreation spaces. The remaining balance of the $1.6 million project was successfully covered through public grants, widespread community donations, and children-led entrepreneurial fundraisers throughout the region.

Designing for Universal Access

For families navigating developmental and physical disabilities, standard public parks have historically presented insurmountable physical barriers. Prior to the establishment of the Berthoud Adaptive Park, local parents of children with severe mobility impairments faced a punishing 45-minute commute to access fully accessible facilities in Fort Collins, Greeley, or Westminster.

The design philosophy behind the Berthoud Adaptive Park rejects the concept of segregated play, prioritizing universal integration instead. Star Playgrounds CEO Erin Starr, alongside company owner and co-designer Mark Ashland, emphasized that building an accessible playground requires meticulous attention to structural fundamentals: extensive ramp systems, complete perimeter fencing, ground-level sensory play elements, unified rubberized surfaces to prevent mobility snags, and comprehensive shade structures to protect children with heat sensitivities or medication-induced photo-sensitivity.

The resulting park features a diverse array of innovative equipment tailored to varied needs:

• Wheelchair-Accessible Swings: Platforms allowing independent access and rope-pulled propulsion.
• Harnessed Swings: Secure seating solutions for children with low muscle tone or severe balance limitations.
• Ramped Play Structures: Elevated pathways wide enough for mobility devices, enabling children to reach heights previously restricted to able-bodied peers.
• Camera-Activated Games: Interactive technology designed to register motion from wheelchairs and specialized mobility devices, overcoming the limitations of standard motion sensors that fail to detect lower-profile equipment.
• Universal Handrails and Transfer Seats: Thoughtfully integrated grip points and specialized benches to facilitate safe lateral transfers from wheelchairs to slides and climbing apparatuses.
• Integrated Community Hubs: Shaded picnic zones, a permanent DJ booth, and a permanent dedicated lemonade stand structure dubbed the "Smiles Lemonade Stand."

Emotional Milestones and Community Impact

During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, hundreds of families gathered to witness the fruits of the five-year campaign. The emotional weight of the opening resonated deeply with parents and municipal leaders alike.

Brad Steward, a father from nearby Longmont, brought his 13-year-old son, Leo, who lives with cerebral palsy and dystonia and uses a wheelchair. Steward noted that the visit marked the first time Leo had ever been elevated to such heights on a public play structure.

"I never thought I’d get emotional at a playground opening, but this is truly life-changing," Steward remarked, highlighting the broader philosophy that public recreational spaces must serve every citizen regardless of physical ability.

Berthoud Mayor William Karspeck commended the Bowling family during the ceremony for demonstrating the profound impact a single household can have on municipal policy and community welfare.

"Because of you, children who may have once had to watch from the sidelines now have a place designed for them to join their friends, laugh, explore, and play together," Mayor Karspeck stated.

The broader Northern Colorado region has slowly seen incremental improvements in recreational equity. Alongside the Berthoud Adaptive Park, municipal investments have included the renovation of Berthoud Town Park to incorporate ADA-compliant elements, as well as the 2025 opening of Willow Bend Park in Loveland, which features several accessible configurations. However, local advocates note that the Berthoud Adaptive Park sets a new regional benchmark for comprehensive, non-segregated recreational design.

Broader Implications and Future Outlook

The success of the Berthoud project highlights a growing national trend: municipalities and developers increasingly recognizing that inclusive infrastructure is not merely a charitable accommodation, but a vital component of modern urban planning. Accessibility advocates emphasize that parks designed for universal use foster early childhood socialization, reducing social stigma and building empathy among able-bodied children who grow up playing alongside peers with diverse abilities.

For Miles Bowling, now 9 years old and fully verbal regarding his experiences, the location of the park within his own neighborhood rather than his private backyard carries immense significance. By scaling the project to a community level, hundreds of other children across Larimer County now share access to these specialized amenities.

Looking ahead, the Bowling family plans to maintain their philanthropic efforts. The newly established "Smiles Lemonade Stand" at the park will continue to operate annually, with future proceeds designated for charitable organizations such as Freedom Service Dogs—a nod to Miles’s own service dog, Ravioli.

Reflecting on the grueling yet rewarding timeline—which Miles precisely tracked using voice-activated technology as spanning five years, one month, and nineteen days—Lauren Bowling offered a modest assessment of her advocacy during her opening remarks.

"I am just a mom who asked a question, and 1,001 people said, ‘Yes, how can we help?’" Bowling told the gathered crowd. "And then you kept pushing me and reminded me how important this all is. Here we are… and we get to play."