Park District Offers Basketball Open Gym For Special Needs Kids

NAPERVILLE, IL -- After a parent approached the staff at Fort Hill Activity Center about having a hard time finding a gym for his son, who has special needs, the activity center decided to take matters into their own hands. The new Special Needs Basketball Open Gym time at Fort Hill will give this family, and others like it, an opportunity to let their children play and grow in an environment that accommodates their needs.

The first Special Needs Open Gym will be held on April 6 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Fort Hill Activity Center, 20 Fort Hill Drive. According to park district officials, children of all ages with special needs are welcome and may bring family members.

Children should bring their own basketballs to the open gym, which will be "unstructured" to foster open play.

The cost is $4 for Naperville Park District residents and $5 for non-residents. A second open gym for children with special needs will be held on May 4 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

In a news update, Fort Hill Activity Center Fitness Manager Kristina McGrath said the idea of the open gym time came at the suggestion of the concerned father. She added that the center is "thrilled to make this available to families in the area who are likely facing similar challenges."