Beyond Basic
Arch Street Park gives everyone an opportunity to play
By Logan Garrett
Photos: AJ Waltz
Over the past decade, parks and recreation departments have been creating playgrounds that extend beyond basic Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements. Playgrounds are expected to meet standards regarding ramps and surfacing, but now communities around the country have begun to build play environments that are truly inclusive for people of all ages and abilities.
The 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design stipulates that playground equipment and facilities constructed or altered on or before March 15, 2012 must be accessible and offer a range of play experiences to children of varying abilities. As important as this development was for providing access for differently-abled individuals, it does not require a playground to provide equipment that is truly inclusive. In fact, a 2014 survey conducted by a playground manufacturer found that well over half (57 percent) of the people questioned mistakenly believed playgrounds are required to have elements designed for children with Down syndrome, sensory disorders, and visual and hearing impairment.
More and more people are realizing the disparity in access and inclusion. The good news is that parks and recreation departments have recognized this need and are building inclusive play spaces for the communities they serve.
Digging In
An excellent example of a city going above and beyond ADA standards of accessibility is Lawrenceburg, Ind. The city recently reopened Arch Street Park, which features a number of inclusive-play elements that are accessible to people in mobility devices, including swings, seesaws, and ziplines.
Beginning in 2020, the community set out to revamp the park. This led to the formation of the Arch Street Park Playground Committee, consisting of area residents, young students, and community members.
This dedicated group set forth to review existing playground infrastructure conditions, address recreation issues in the area, and improve accessibility for the outdoor play environments. The main goal was to create a playground design featuring inclusive, fun, and exceptional play experiences to add to the city’s award-winning parks. After a year of planning, design, and installation, the universally designed park reopened in June 2021.
“Inclusion was always a priority for us,” says Guinevere Emery, communications director for the city. “We’ve always been a community dedicated to supporting exceptional recreation environments, and part of that is providing inclusive play spaces for people in the region.”
The project was made possible and partially funded by a grant of $190,403 from a leading playground manufacturer, with the city committing an additional $550,026.
“[The] project took a lot of time, with great input from our playground committee, to finalize a design that could be utilized by different age groups for ultimate fun and healthy experiences,” says Mayor Kelly Mollaun.
According to Emery, multiple members of the playground committee had connections to individuals with disabilities, and this perspective had a dramatic impact on their desire to create an inclusive playground. In order to comprehensively address developmental needs of children, the city relied on best-practice research conducted by a leading playground manufacturer, centered on the seven principles of inclusive playground design. These principles ultimately create an inclusive play experience by intentionally providing opportunities for physical, cognitive, communicative, social/emotional, and sensory development.
“It was great to develop options for their park based on feedback from the community. We worked with people and kids of all ages and abilities to create the playground that is going to be perfect for this community, and it’s been such a blessing to be a part of a project that is going to affect so many people,” says Jeff Branham, a regional sales associate involved in the project.
Sensory Stimulation
In addition to dealing with physical disabilities, inclusive play spaces should also address the needs of individuals with cognitive, communicative, social/emotional, and sensory disabilities.
This can be accomplished in a variety of ways, namely with the addition of play elements like sensory panels, which stimulate senses, such as touch, movement, smell, taste, sight, hearing, and balance. Similarly, human-powered electronic devices provide sensory experiences by which users engage in physical activity of some sort to “power-up” the activity. This may include turning a handle, repeatedly pressing a foot pedal, or rotating a wheel. These innovative products feature sensory-rich experiences like lights and music, storytelling, or social games.
Playgrounds like Arch Street Park are built for people of all ages as well. Multigenerational play is incredibly beneficial for numerous reasons for both adults and children. Studies show that children who play with adults demonstrate greater creativity and higher levels of language and problem-solving skills. Intergenerational play is also advantageous for adults. Recent studies also indicate adults who engage in play with children experience drastic psychological and health benefits, including improved mood, greater cognitive skills, enhanced relationships, and reduced stress.
Playgrounds play an important role in child development and quality of life, and everyone deserves the opportunity to partake in play. Communities around the world are joining the city of Lawrenceburg in providing thoroughly inclusive play spaces for people of all abilities, ages, and backgrounds. In hopes of addressing the needs of the 7.3-million school-aged children with disabilities, parks and recreation departments are constructing inclusive play environments that go well beyond basic ADA compliance.
Logan Garrett is a Media Relations Coordinator for Mace+Carmichael. Reach him at (423) 519-9979, or logan@macecarmichael.com.