New LWSRA Sensory Bus Hits the Road Thanks to $30,000 Donation

New Lenox Community Park District Meeting | August 2025

Article Summary: The Lincoln-Way Special Recreation Association’s new Sensory Bus is officially in service and has been well-received at community events. The project was supported by a $30,000 donation from the Aileen S. Andrews Foundation, providing a calming and therapeutic space for individuals with sensory needs.

Special Recreation Update Key Points:

• LWSRA received a $30,000 donation from the Aileen S. Andrews Foundation for the Sensory Bus.

• The bus is now fully operational and has already been deployed to several community events.

• It provides a controlled environment to support individuals with sensory processing challenges.

• Planning is also underway for the grand opening of the new Hero’s Village facility.

The New Lenox Community Park District board on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, received an update on a successful new initiative from the Lincoln-Way Special Recreation Association (LWSRA).

Executive Director Greg Lewis reported that LWSRA has received a generous $30,000 donation from the Aileen S. Andrews Foundation to support its new Sensory Bus project. The bus, designed to provide a safe and controlled environment for individuals with sensory processing disorders, is now in full operation.

“The first Sensory Bus is now in operation and has already been out to different communities for different events and has been well received by everyone,” Lewis stated.

The mobile unit serves as a vital resource, allowing LWSRA to bring therapeutic and calming sensory experiences directly to the communities it serves. In addition to the bus’s successful launch, Lewis noted that planning is underway for the grand opening of Hero’s Village, LWSRA’s new facility, with an official invitation expected to be shared in mid-September.