Northern Michigan University student organization earns Project of the Year recognition for ADA Compliant Little Free Library project

Northern Michigan University’s Northern Michigan Constructors, an organization made up of construction management students, recently built and installed an ADA Compliant Little Free Library at the inclusive kids playground at Lower Harbor Park. For the group’s effort, it earned a Project of the Year recognition at Northern Michigan University’s Leadership Recognition Banquet.

According to an article on Northern Michigan University’s website, Lincoln Klinski, who serves as the president of the Northern Michigan Constructors, explained the project and the importance of creating such a structure. He was quoted as saying, “Many have claimed to have ADA free libraries, but you can't really get a wheelchair underneath them. Our whole design concept was to have two posts–one at each end–rather than just a single post in the middle. That makes it possible to pull a little wheelchair underneath it and get close enough to open it and reach in easily. It's the perfect height for any child because it only has one long shelf and is wider rather than taller.” 

The Northern Michigan Constructors take on community service projects that utilize the skills they earn in their construction management courses in order to make improvements to the community. For this project, the Northern Michigan Constructors coordinated with the Playground for All Committee.

Barb Coleman is a member of the Playground for All Committee, and is also a retired Northern Michigan University professor. She said of the students and their project, “They were constantly professional doing this, making sure everything was just right. With this playground, we've removed all of the barriers to all kids being able to play. And now we have a little free library that has removed all of the barriers associated with getting to it, opening the doors and reaching books from a seated position.”

The Kids Cove inclusive playground is at Lower Harbor Park. The new Little Free Library is located between the Kids Cove playground and the Lower Harbor Park restrooms.

For more information about Northern Michigan University, visit the school’s website.