November 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 39

All-abilities playgrounds with familysized
equipment make parent-child
interaction opportunities more
accessible and comfortable for adults.
impractical for smaller parks and
private spaces, there are several
changes that existing playgrounds
could make that would benefit visitors
with and without disabilities.
Based on findings at PlayGrand,
upgrading to poured-in-place rubber
surfacing in place of wood
chips or other surfacing would prevent
injuries and increase perceptions
of safety. Likewise, in-ground
merry-go-rounds are not only accessible,
but also safer than traditional
counterparts. Finally, there
are many playground equipment
options that can be enjoyed by everyone,
including spinning sensory
wheels, musical instruments with
responsive lights, funhouse mirrors
and splash pads. Investing in these
items could prove to have a higher
return on financial and space investment
than highly specific inclusive
equipment.
Families who visit playgrounds
- Playgrounds can be a place of
bonding and learning for families
(tinyurl.com/juzm42bm,
tinyurl.
com/m5s7kv5s). I observed parents
engaged with their children
at different levels, but research indicates
child-parent interaction is
critical for appropriate attachment,
development and learning. There
are many activities
parents can
enjoy with their children on any
playground, like pushing them on
the swings, spinning them on the
merry-go-round,
helping
them
climb, or simply racing or playing
catch. However, all-abilities playgrounds
with family-sized equipment
make these
opportunities
more accessible and comfortable
for adults. In addition to playing
together, playgrounds provide an
on-location classroom for teaching
children empathy, how to appropriately
interact with others, and how
to understand disabilities.
Potential playground partners
- Playgrounds can exist without
external partnerships, but engaging
through formal connections can
increase awareness, sustainability
and growth opportunities. School
partnerships might include fundraising
opportunities or curriculum
development for field trips, as in
the case of PlayGrand Adventures.
Corporate
programs and community
Making a Difference
My friend Katie deserves to play
with her daughter, and at playgrounds
like
PlayGrand Advensocial
responsibility
clubs
could be sources of funding and
volunteers. Partnerships with medical
providers could lead to greater
awareness, educational opportunities
and treatment in a novel location.
While these partnerships help
day-to-day playground operations,
they also can build relationships
and personal connections that develop
lifelong supporters.
tures she can. These all-abilities
playgrounds are not just providing
places for children to play. They are
places of human interaction, socialization
and engagement. What
would it be like for Katie to play
with her daughter like any other
parent? What would it be like for
Katie to meet with a group of other
mothers with disabilities to engage
in conversations and connect
while their children play together?
What would it be like for others to
learn from my friend how disability
affects her life, but has not robbed
her of her ambition, success or joy?
Katie and I cannot wait to find out.
PlayGrand Adventures and other
all-abilities playgrounds are making
this vision a reality.
Dr. Taylor D. Bunn is Executive Director
for Hope 4 All (taylor@hope4all.us).
PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G | NOVEMBER 2 0 2 1
| Parks & Recreation
39
https://tinyurl.com/m5s7kv5s http://www.tinyurl.com/juzm42bm https://tinyurl.com/m5s7kv5s
November 2021 - Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of November 2021 - Parks & Recreation
