Three McLaren Health Care hospitals have partnered to share their continued collective support of Levi’s Link through its sponsorship of a planned Oxford Township pocket park project that advances the organization’s mission of accessibility for people with special needs while also promoting physical activity, relaxation, and an appreciation of nature.
The philanthropic foundations at McLaren Greater Lansing, McLaren Lapeer Region, and McLaren Oakland have donated a total of $10,000 to the Levi’s Link Park project, which is expected to cost approximately $120,000.
“The vision of Levi’s Link and this park are helping to bring to life a peaceful, accessible park offering everyone a place to relax, recharge, and enjoy the outdoors in comfort and safety,” said Lynn Griffor, Chief Experience Officer and Vice President of Philanthropy at McLaren Greater Lansing, and who assisted in organizing this donation. “We are grateful to our fellow McLaren hospital and to be in the position to support this project, one that reflects our commitment to provide care even when it extends beyond the walls of our hospitals.”
Planned on a 0.16-acre piece of land along Lakeville Road adjacent to the Polly Ann Trail, Levi’s Link Park will include an outdoor gym, several pieces of play equipment, four sensory rings, a bicycle repair station, a communication board to assist nonspeaking visitors, and benches, all on an engineered wood fiber surface that complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and is accessible to wheelchair users. The park will also have an observation deck with binocular viewers that will enable visitors to enjoy views of the lake and surrounding wooded areas.
Founded in 2018 by Rob and Megan Wilson, and named in honor of their son, Levi, who was diagnosed with autism at age 2, Levi’s Link forms partnerships and undertakes projects aimed at accommodating the special needs patients and the stresses they may encounter during their health care experience.
"I cannot begin to express to McLaren’s leadership and staff how grateful we are for this extremely generous contribution," said C.J. Carnacchio, Communications and Grants Manager for Oxford Township. "We appreciate McLaren’s willingness to invest in our community and help improve people’s physical and mental health by creating another vibrant public space where folks can exercise, play, socialize and connect with nature.”
Levi’s Link established a specially designed sensory bay at McLaren Port Huron — a unique pre- and post-operative area designed to reduce anxiety — before expanding within McLaren Health Care with a similar room in McLaren Greater Lansing. Plans for further expansion to McLaren Oakland, McLaren Oxford, McLaren Clarkston, McLaren Lapeer Region, and McLaren Grand Ledge are currently underway.
Learn more about Levi’s Link and its programs at McLaren hospitals at midmichiganmaterials.com/levis-link.
View all McLaren locations and services at mclaren.org.
About McLaren Health Care
McLaren Health Care, headquartered in Grand Blanc, Michigan, is a $7.3 billion, fully integrated health care delivery system committed to quality, evidence-based patient care and cost efficiency. The McLaren system includes 12 hospitals in Michigan, ambulatory surgery centers, imaging centers, a 640-member employed primary and specialty care physician network, commercial and Medicaid HMOs covering more than 732,838 lives in Michigan and Indiana, home health, infusion and hospice providers, pharmacy services, a clinical laboratory network and a wholly owned medical malpractice insurance company. McLaren operates Michigan’s largest network of cancer centers and providers, anchored by the Karmanos Cancer Institute, a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center. McLaren has 28,000 full-, part-time and contracted employees and more than 113,000 network providers throughout Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio. Learn more at mclaren.org.