How Municipalities Fund Park Communication Boards: The SeeMyLegacy Solution
The transformative power of outdoor Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) boards in enhancing community inclusion is unparalleled. These visual tools serve as vital bridges, connecting non-verbal individuals and those with speech differences to their peers. They create a community of inclusion and acceptance as well as lifelong connections.
However, figuring out how municipalities fund park communication boards can feel daunting when local budgets are tight. While securing grants is an option, forward-thinking cities are now using creative funding models—like digital storyboards from SeeMyLegacy—to fund these essential accessibility tools without straining public budgets.
Why Municipalities Need Public Communication Boards
Public communication boards display clear symbols, images, and words that allow children and adults to express needs, share feelings, and interact during play.
Municipalities across the country are prioritizing these tools for parks, pools, and schools. For example, the City of Lowell, Massachusetts purchased all-weather communication boards from Resources at Lakeshore Speech, LLC for all of their municipal parks, public pools, and school grounds—creating a city-wide culture of belonging.
How SeeMyLegacy Storyboards Provide Municipal Funding for Communication Boards
Traditional municipal funding pathways often overlook specialized accessibility tools due to competing capital priorities. SeeMyLegacy solves this gap by offering a unique, donor-driven fundraising engine.
1. Turning Community Storyboards into Fundraising Tools
SeeMyLegacy creates customizable, physical Story Boards placed in public spaces. These boards feature QR codes linking to digital stories celebrating local donors, volunteers, and historical milestones. Municipalities can dedicate these sponsorships directly to funding park communication boards, giving local supporters a tangible cause to back.
2. Enhancing Donor Recognition and Community Buy-In
By publicly honoring sponsors and volunteers through digital storyboards, cities create a cycle of giving. Highlighting local contributors builds momentum for park improvements and makes it easier to raise ongoing funds for accessibility signage.
3. Driving Educational Campaigns
Storyboards double as educational tools. Municipalities can use them to teach residents about speech differences, neurodiversity, and why visual AAC tools matter—building widespread public support for future inclusion projects.
A 5-Step Guide to Implementing Communication Boards in Your City
To successfully finance and launch public communication signage using community sponsorships, municipal leaders can follow this straightforward roadmap:
Step 1: Assess Community Communication Needs
Work with local speech-language pathologists, special education directors, and parks committees to identify high-traffic areas (like inclusive playgrounds or splash pads) that need visual communication tools.
Step 2: Partner with SeeMyLegacy
Collaborate with SeeMyLegacy to design custom digital storyboards tailored to your town’s history, sponsorship goals, and fundraising campaign targets.
Step 3: Launch Your Municipal Funding Campaign
Promote your community sponsorship campaign online and at local events. Offer local businesses and families the opportunity to sponsor a Story Board with proceeds dedicated to park accessibility.
Step 4: Install SLP-Designed Communication Boards
Once funding is raised, order durable, weather-proof communication boards designed by clinicians (such as those from Resources at Lakeshore Speech) and install them in your target parks.
Step 5: Evaluate and Expand Your Project
Gather feedback from local families, schools, and therapists. Use the success of your initial project to expand communication boards to additional public spaces across your city.
Bring Inclusive Communication to Your Local Parks
Integrating AAC signage into public spaces is a vital step toward building a truly accessible, compassionate, and connected city. By leveraging innovative funding tools like SeeMyLegacy alongside clinician-designed boards from Resources at Lakeshore Speech, municipalities can transform their public spaces into welcoming environments where every individual—regardless of verbal ability—has a voice to play, learn, and belong.
Ready to take the next step? Request a quote today!
