JoJo's Jungle

The Inspiration Josiah Hoerter, was born in 2012 as our biological nephew. He was 11 months old when we had the opportunity to adopt him into our home, and he became our son. It was clear to us he wasn’t developmentally on track, yet, several doctors assured us he would catch up and all would be fine. We prayed they were right. As time went on it became clear; all was not fine. The answer came through genetic testing. Josiah had a rare genetic disorder called MECP2 Duplication syndrome. Our little JoJo, would never walk, talk, or gain any kind of independence in his life. His prognosis came with another sobering reality; we would bury our son while his siblings were still young. That happened sooner than anyone expected as he passed in February 2015, three months shy of his 3rd birthday. JoJo’s Jungle came from a promise we made to Josiah. His Make-A-Wish was going to be an accessible playground in our backyard. When he passed, however, the wish ended before it began. We made a promise to design the ultimate all-inclusive playground for our community. So that other families could enjoy his legacy.

The Mission To build a unique playground setting where children of any ability can play alongside their friends and families. Our goal is to enrich social skills, sensory learning, and promote physical fitness in a safe environment for every child in our community. The design must meet the above criteria while allowing parents and caregivers to feel relaxed and comfortable in their surroundings.