Let The Good Times Roll!
This summer, LifeTown is getting a glow up! The state-of-the-art facility is developing another attraction in addition to its impressive roster of activities. A generous lead gift by Jody and Bruce Friedman has inspired other donors and enabled Friendship Circle to embark on the creation of a fully accessible bowling center, located right at the ground floor of LifeTown.
“My hope is for it to be very successful in terms of adding another dimension to what everyone is doing here already,” said Bruce Friedman. “If you’re fortunate enough in life to have a little luck it’s your duty to give some back,” said Jody Friedman. “It’s been a privilege to be able to be supportive of LifeTown.”
It takes a village to turn an idea into a reality. Beginning with inspiration photos, this space took several months to conceive, designed by Uriel Zohar, with creative input from the leadership team at LifeTown and technical requirements from Brunswick Bowling Products.
“The design is very happy and cheerful,” said Zohar. “Like the whole center, it is completely accessible, but what is beautiful here is that everyone feels comfortable and can enjoy it, whether they are members of the general community or people with special needs.”
Today, the teams from Brunswick Bowling Products and Haas Construction Management are hard at work putting finishing touches on the lanes, but the space already evokes a sense of fun and joy.
“Greater care was taken in the acoustical design and the lighting design than in a standard alley,” said Andy Haas, President of Haas Construction Management. “The alley has been constructed to allow for more comfortable accommodations for both bowlers and non-bowlers so that children with special needs can be accompanied by family members and caregivers in a welcoming environment.”
The alley is comprised of three lanes, with auto bumpers. A custom ball rack that’s low to the ground to accommodate those in wheelchairs will be installed. The space also includes Brunswick’s Spark System, with projectors that display interactive images on the lanes and make the game more engaging and responsive.
One of the things I really like about this job is you get to start from ground zero,” said John Hummel of Brunswick Bowling Products. “You start with a concrete slab and when you leave it’s an entertainment center for all ages. It’s a sport that everybody can enjoy.”
“Bowling is the perfect addition to LifeTown,” said Rabbi Zalman Grossbaum, LifeTown CEO. “It is an accessible sport that is inclusive and engaging for people of all abilities and ages.”
Slated to open at the end of the summer, the alley will be a spot for connection and most of all, fun. Not only will the space have meaning for LifeTown’s guests, but it has left an impression on those who have built it.
We can see the difference that the facility makes in the lives of the children and their families,” said Haas. “And we are proud to be a small part of this.”
Zohar agrees with this sentiment. “When there is such an important center that helps people with special needs in such a beautiful way, the work on each project becomes much more meaningful,” he said. “I feel that I am a part of this beautiful center.”
Everyone who walks through the doors at LifeTown is a part of the magic. And by summer’s end, more memories will be made – one strike at a time.
