The Eagle

Enduring memory

Renovated ARC playhouse dedicated to lifelong supporter, family

The Arc of Northwest Wayne County (The Arc NW) in Canton Township unveiled the newly renovated Carol Zago and  Family Playhouse at an official dedication last week. The newly renovated space supports the Lekotek Play Program, a program that provides guided play and toy lending to enhance development and growth for children, along with inclusion within their families, schools and communities.

A bequest by the late Carol Zago upon her passing and additional fundraising led by her family has provided more than $35,000 to support the Lekotek Play Program which has assisted in funding improvements to the space and providing programming to Lekotek Play Program participants. The organization has named the space the “Carol Zago and Family Playhouse” in her honor, a spokesperson noted in a prepared release.

Renovations to the space included new carpet, paint, double doors for accessibility, a sensory wall, climbing equipment, a wall mural, furnishings, lighting, curtains and wall decor. These improvements support the Lekotek Play Program by creating a welcoming, sensory-friendly and accessible space in which children can interact and play, officials said. 

“The Carol Zago and Family Playhouse has created a beautiful and welcoming home for our Lekotek Play Program, a program that helps families to imagine a real, included life for their child that looks like the life of anyone else,” said Gretchen Sanewsky, executive director of The Arc NW. “We are extremely grateful to the Zago family for their generous financial support which serves as an investment into our organization's sustainability and ability to serve the community for generations to come. We are honored to dedicate this space to Carol and the Zago family as a show of appreciation for all of the ways they’ve supported The Arc NW for decades.”

Carol Zago and her family were connected to The Arc NW in the 1970s as a resource for her son, Christian, who was born with multiple disabilities and medical issues. Christian passed away in 2002 at the age of 30, Sanewsky said. 

“The Arc of Northwest Wayne County’s programs, advocacy and support was transformative for my family and helped shape the life my brother got to experience,” said Michael Zago. “There are many other families like ours that The Arc NW impacts, so it was important to my family that, even after Christian passed, we find ways to support The Arc NW so they can continue their impact and provide families the support they need.”

The Carol Zago and Family Playhouse supports families in Wayne County who have a child with disabilities of any kind from birth to 12 years old. Additionally, it supports local schools, teachers, therapists, other organizations that serve people with disabilities and local communities that can take part in inclusive activities in the space.

More information about The Arc NW is available at www.thearcnw.org.