Family of 9-year-old battling brain cancer launches campaign to build accessible playground in Riverwest

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- This is Stella. She celebrated her ninth birthday Wednesday, May 7. 

Stella has been battling brain cancer, and the disease has left her with some serious challenges. But Stella has now inspired an effort to remake her favorite Milwaukee park. 

Stella didn't think she could play at Riverwest's Kilbourn Reservoir Park like the other kids. 

On Wednesday, Stella's family held a press conference to spread the word about their effort to change that. They want to create Milwaukee's first universally accessible and inclusive playground at Reservoir Park. 

"We can't fix everything for her, we don't have that magic wand that we've been looking for this whole time," said Rese Schneider, Stella's mom. "But this is something that we can fix, this is something that we can do. We can build a playground that is inspired by Stella."

The playground would include accessible surfaces, ramps, and other features that accommodate mobility devices. 

The goal is to raise $2 million and break ground for Stella's playground next year. 

Happy birthday, Stella!