Berthoud Brewing teams with Can’d Aid to build adaptive park

Thirst Staff Reports

The Berthoud Brewery taproom will host a party from 12 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11, to celebrate the Berthoud Adaptive Park Project.

Can’d Aid, a non-profit organization launched by Oskar Blues Brewing Company employees, is spearheading the project, which plans to build the first fully accessible public playground in Berthoud.

The Saturday event includes a 2 p.m. live auction, as well as beer specials, and food from White Paper BBQ. If you can’t make it to the party, donate online. Berthoud Brewing will match every donation up to $5,030.

“We’re excited for this opportunity to give back to the Berthoud community and help create a playground that is fully accessible so close to home,” says Jesse Sommers, co-owner of Berthoud Brewing. “I have three young kids and coached youth sports in Berthoud. I know how important it is for kids to have a healthy outlet to play.”

The idea for Berthoud Adaptive Park was sparked by the needs of the Bowling family. Lauren and Richard Bowling are the parents of three young children: five-year-old Braxton and four-year-old twins Mack and Miles. During Lauren’s pregnancy, Mack and Miles were diagnosed with twin-to-twin Twin Transfusion Syndrome. In either labor or delivery, Miles was without oxygen long enough to result in a traumatic brain injury.

He was not affected cognitively or verbally, but Miles can’t stand or walk by himself, so he is dependent on a wheelchair.

“The closest ADA accessible playground to us is 40 minutes away,” said Lauren. “The community had no plans to build an adaptive playground, so we wanted to help provide that space for Miles and other children in the area.”

Can’d Aid has a Treads + Trails program, which provides tools and access for all to lead healthy and active lives, and it recently secured a $25,000 matching grant from the Braly Family Foundation specifically for the Berthoud project.