We completed a sixth new playscape in August 2024 for the REACH Early Intervention Program in their Greenfield office. This playscape is dedicated to Arlene Spooner, who has worked as a Physical Therapist for REACH for more than 40 years. Arlene and I have also worked together over the years, and have joined together to run training courses on play and motor development for young children for the last 15 years.
As with all the playscapes, I want to thank Brian Gulick, who has volunteered to help me to transport and install each playscape, and provides excellent technical advise and expertise.
Arlene’s Playground -2024
This indoor playscape is dedicated to my friend Arlene Spooner, who has worked as a Physical Therapist in Early Intervention for nearly 40 years. She has worked with, trained and inspired a whole generation of parents, children, staff and therapists with her knowledge, commitment and enthusiasm for working with young kids.
I first met Arlene over 40 years ago when we both worked at the Belchertown State School, with residents who needed specialized wheelchairs and adaptive equipment. Our paths crossed again when she came to work at Cooley Dickinson in the pediatric therapy department, where we worked closely together and had time to share ideas and strategies for those children who came to our outpatient department for therapy. Arlene has always been a learner, constantly adding skills and knowledge and sustaining an excitement about what was possible. I came to her when I first decided to build these indoor playscapes, and it was this connection that led me to build play structures for the Amherst and Northampton REACH offices.
Arlene and I have also been teaching courses on early motor development for young kids for over 15 years, and it is in this setting that I have really gotten to see her incredible energy and dedication. Hundreds of teachers have come to understand infant development through her teaching, and our work continues. I am proud to have worked with her, and feel lucky to have been able to learn so much from her over so many years. I know her work will continue to make a difference for the Early Intervention community, and I hope this playscape will be a place for fun and learning for years to come.
Tom Murphy –Founder-
Bogin Playscape Project-boginplayscapeproject.com
August 2024
Bogin Playscape Project 