Jonathan's Dream Reimagined

With the help of hundreds of volunteers, Jonathan's Dream was rebuilt and opened in
October 2017.

Donations are always welcome, needed, and appreciated to help sustain Jonathan's
Dream. To learn more, please visit the
Jonathan's Dream website.

Donations can be made from this website or can be mailed to:
Jonathan's Dream Fund
c/o Mandell JCC, 335 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06117

Join our
Facebook Group "Jonathan's Dream" to hear the latest news about Jonathan's Dream...

Our Story
A little girl, sitting in a wheelchair, sadly watching, because she couldn’t play on the playground.
That’s what Amy Jaffe Barzach and Peter Barzach noticed when playing with their two sons,
Daniel and Jonathan, in 1994. Shortly after, their younger son Jonathan was diagnosed with
Spinal Muscular Atrophy – a degenerative neuromuscular disease. Tragically, Jonathan died in
1995, but the Barzach family never forgot the girl in the wheelchair and her longing to be
included. To honor Jonathan and the dream of all children being able to play together, The
Barzach family decided to create a wooden, wheelchair-inclusive playground that could be
enjoyed by families of all abilities. In 1996, thanks to more than 1,000 community volunteers,
Jonathan’s Dream opened in West Hartford, Connecticut – and opened up new opportunities for
countless children, parents, and grandparents.
Jonathan’s Dream sparked a movement across the United States and Canada – a movement
that resulted in the creation of the non-profit organization Boundless Playgrounds. Working with
communities, Boundless Playgrounds supported the development of over 200 inclusive
playgrounds for thousands upon thousands of children and their families.
After years of heavy use and wear and tear, the original Jonathan's Dream has to come down in
2012. It was rebuilt in 2017 by community volunteers.
To learn more, please visit the
Jonathan's Dream website.