GameTime Completes Memphis Park
GameTime recently completed David Carnes Park—the first BlueCross Healthy Place—in Memphis. The nine-acre community greenspace includes two inclusive playgrounds, a splash pad, walking trails, a challenge course and outdoor fitness equipment, a community pavilion, and a multi-use turf field.
GameTime designed the park with landscape architects from Barge Design Solutions in Memphis and selected the play and recreation products based on feedback from the community. The year-long $4.5-million project is a transformation that will promote health and wellness for generations to come.
In 2018, the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Health Foundation launched the BlueCross Healthy Place program, which creates and improves public spaces across the state, providing neighbors with places for connection and healthy activity.
Some more stats:
The playground features play areas for ages 2 to 5 and 5 to 12 with ramped access throughout the play structures, ground-level play activities, and accessible rubber surfacing.
The inclusive play area was designed using the research found in Me2®: 7 Principles of Inclusive Playground Design® from Utah State University Center for Persons with Disabilities and has been designated as a National Demonstration Site for Inclusive Play by Playcore.
The splash pad has ADA accessible sprayers and water activities.
The nature-inspired walking paths have pockets of play for children to climb and explore. The paths also include fitness equipment like chest press and chin-up bars for adults to exercise.
Youth and adult park patrons can enjoy friendly competition with the GameTime Challenge Course as well as a large multi-purpose field for team sports.
The outdoor fitness areas were designed using research from PlayCore’s scholar network and designated as a National Demonstration Site for adult fitness.
The park honors the community leader for whom it was named. David Carnes was Memphis’ first African American landowner - a blacksmith whose family still resides in Memphis. To honor Mr. Carnes, GameTime created a historical marker that serves as an imaginative play area. The custom-designed blacksmith shop includes a plaque so future generations will learn about David Carnes and the Whitehaven community.
