It is virtually impossible to argue that Project 1107 deserves high praise when it comes to being an innovative initiative that will have a lasting community impact, but the effort’s inclusiveness and collaboration has also set a new standard by which all others should be judged.

Led by The Greater Clark Foundation, Project 1107 is the visionary public green space concept to transform the nearly 30 acres of land that was the former site of Winchester’s Clark Regional Medical Center into a multi-use space that will benefit local citizens in a myriad of ways as well as attract visitors from across the region.

The Foundation will fund up to $3.5 million to begin construction of the space that supporters hope will be an area for civic engagement, community festivities, group activities and individual reflection, with features that include a children’s playspace, a water wall, public art, walking trails, native plants, gardens and event spaces.

It only makes sense that the initiative, which began as a roundtable discussion bringing together a diverse group of citizens to talk about recreational, educational and cultural activities for the community, would continue to raise the bar when it comes to collaboration.

Recently a 25-member team consisting of Clark County children in fourth through sixth grades took the lead in designing a two-acre portion of Project 1107 that will be dedicated to play.

The members of the design team were comprised of a diverse group of students from public, private and home school programs who participated in a series of workshops where they considered playground accessibility for children of all ages and development levels.

The youth shared their vision with the community Saturday morning. Now, Learning Landscapes Design will utilize the team’s ideas to create the final play-space design.

But the collaboration will not end there.

The team will have the opportunity to review the initial plans and be a part of the process once construction begins in late 2017.

Famed automaker Henry Ford said, “Coming together is the beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.”

Project 1107 is certainly following this proven path, while blazing its own trail at the same time.