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Jacob's Park is a uniquely-designed playground where
children with special needs and typical children can play side by
side. It is the wonderful vision of Boynton residents and JCC members
Adi and Shaina Rappoport.
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jacob’s park, which will be located at the
Ross JCC, 8500 Jog Rd. in Boynton Beach, is named after their son
Jacob Isaac Rappoport who died in 2002 from spinal muscular atrophy
at nine months young.
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The park will be both a living memorial
to Jacob and a specially-designed playground where special needs
and typical children can celebrate life together. It is a playground
where children can slide and swing and climb and run and jump
and do so many of the things Jacob Rappoport never got a chance
to do. Jacob’s Park will be a beautiful place aesthetically
and philosophically.
Help us build it. Help us celebrate our children, remember a life
that, though all too short, has become an inspiration, and set a
new standard for playgrounds that can build character and understanding
as well as bodies.
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why this park, why the j?
 Shaina Rappoport explains it like this: “Before we knew what was wrong
with Jacob, I was at the JCC waiting to get on the elevator. I noticed a
flyer for the J’s ‘Special Needs Camp.’ My first reaction
to the flyer was horror. G-d forbid that my son should have to go to a place
like that! In that moment, I could imagine nothing worse.
A week later, we received Jacob's terminal diagnosis: Spinal Muscular
Atrophy, Type 1. Jacob would never sit up, crawl, or walk. He would lose
his ability to swallow. He would likely die before his first birthday.
Everything changed that day. At once, I knew how naive it was to pity
the children who were at the JCC Special Needs Camp (Camp Tikvah). I wish
that we had been lucky enough to send Jacob there.”
 For the sake of their three-year-old daughter Jordan, Shaina and Adi
began referring to the cemetery where Jacob was buried as Jacob's Park.
“We'd visit, sit on a bench alongside Jacob's grave, and watch as
Jordan picked flowers. All these years later, we still call the cemetery
Jacob’s Park.” (The couple now also has two healthy sons,
Max and Sam.)
The Rappoport’s believe the JCC is the perfect location for Jacob’s
Park. “The JCC has been our home for almost 10 years, and supported
us while we cared for Jacob…,” Shaina explains. “Had
Jacob survived, he would have had severe physical limitations. Jacob's
Park would be a place where able-bodied and special needs children could
play alongside one another. The Park will be a place where Jacob’s
spirit will live on.”
Help us build jacob’s park. Be a part of the creation of a playground
that celebrates life, teaches caring and respect, symbolizes the best
of our humanity, and is a testament to the power of joy, innocence, and
love.
 how to help
The JCC is committed to building mutually beneficial, long-term relationships
with our donors. Sponsorship of Jacob’s Park, offers companies a
partnership that will enhance positive corporate image while contributing
to the very worthy cause of building an accessible playground. It's a
win-win situation for all involved.
Join the Play Everyday! campaign or sponsor a piece of the park:
Sponsorship Levels
 Play for a Day $100
Play for a Week $500
Play for a Month $1000
Play for a Year $10,000
Play for a Lifetime $100,000
Naming Opportunities
Rock Walls $750
Slides $1000
Benches $2000
Shade Structures $3000
Drum Circle $5000 (SOLD)
All Play Everyday! and equipment donors will be recognized
on a prominent Wall of Stars at Jacob’s Park. Bench donors will
have the opportunity to inscribe a small plaque that will be affixed to
the bench.
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