About Unlimited Play
At Unlimited Play, we believe every child, no matter their physical or cognitive abilities, deserves to feel welcome and experience the joy of PLAY without barriers.
Unlimited Play is an award-winning 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to building inclusion through play. Our mission extends beyond creating accessible playgrounds and play spaces — we aim to promote inclusivity and belonging in all aspects of life. Every project seeks to create a place for dignity, understanding and respect among others. Join us as we transform communities!
Our Values
Improve the Lives of Kids Everywhere
Create JOY
Bring Communities Together
Inspire Inclusion
Promote Growth and Development
Our Values
Improve the Lives of Kids Everywhere
Create JOY
Bring Communities Together
Inspire Inclusion
Promote Growth and Development
Together, we can build a kinder, more inclusive and understanding world.
With over 100 inclusive playgrounds nationwide, Unlimited Play is transforming communities by fostering dignity, understanding, and respect among children of all abilities. Our impact is made possible by the generosity of donors like you—every dollar raised fuels our mission to create truly inclusive play spaces. Hear from some of our incredible families and partners as they share how these playgrounds have changed their lives!
Our Story
The story of Unlimited Play began with a three-year-old boy named Zachary Blakemore. Zach lived with a rare genetic condition, Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease (PMD), which required the use of a wheelchair. But like all children, Zach loved to play. His mother, Natalie, would take him to the playground and often leave those visits in tears, because the playground’s barriers only emphasized Zach’s limitations, and prevented him from interacting with other children.
After visiting an accessible playground on the East Coast, Natalie was inspired to bring one to her family’s hometown. Unlimited Play was formed in 2003 and, after years of organizing and fundraising, Zachary’s Playground opened in Lake Saint Louis, Mo., on April 21, 2007. The vision for Unlimited Play began with one playground that started a movement to bring inclusive play to communities everywhere. Zach passed away peacefully in September 2021, surrounded by his loved ones — but his passion for life and love of play remains a cornerstone of everything we do at Unlimited Play. And so, the mission continues!
Another powerful chapter in the Unlimited Play story comes from a family who, like Zachary’s, believed that every child deserves the chance to play. What unfolded was a story of love, loss, and legacy—beginning with Jake Vollmer, a young boy who simply wanted to experience the joy of play.
Jake, born with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, used a wheelchair for most of his childhood. For him and his brothers, visiting playgrounds wasn’t an option—so they simply didn’t go. That all changed when Zachary’s Playground opened. For the first time, Jake could truly be part of the fun—laughing, exploring, and playing alongside other children without barriers. It opened up a whole new world for the Vollmer family.
Jake passed away in 2012, but the joy he experienced on that playground—and the sense of belonging it gave him—left a lasting impact on his family.
In 2016, Jake’s dad, Jim, met Natalie. Wentzville had land, and Jim had an idea: to build a playground in Jake’s honor. In 2018, Jake’s Field of Dreams opened. Inspired, Jim sold his business and joined Unlimited Play. Together, he and Natalie built what we now know as Unlimited Play—a nationally recognized nonprofit born from love, loss, and a shared passion to ensure that all children, of all abilities, have a place to play side by side. Their partnership transformed the landscape of inclusive play across the country, creating a legacy that continues to grow. Though Jim passed away in 2023 after a courageous battle with cancer, his spirit lives on in every laugh, smile, and moment of joy on an Unlimited Play playground. Today, his legacy continues through his family—his wife, Diane, now serves as the Executive Director, and their son, Tyler, plays a key role as Operations & Finance Specialist—each carrying forward Jim’s unwavering commitment to inclusion.
What began with one playground continues to change lives—one inclusive play space at a time.
Our Team
Natalie Mackay
Founder & CEO
Diane Vollmer
Executive Director
Chuck Nielsen
Project Manager
Julie Hoffmann
Project Manager
Shannon Columb
Project Manager
Adam Bowman
Director of Programming
Tyler Vollmer
Operations & Finance Specialist
Board of Directors
Tyler Schaeffer – President
John Meilink – President Emeritus
Lance Brunk
Monique Bynum
John Devaney
Jayson Lenox
Michael Webb
Our Partner in Play
