October 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 37

Playgrounds like Arch Street Park highlight
the many aspects of inclusion and equity.
dent Spencer Cheak. " Your commitment
to inclusive play and outdoor
recreation for people of all ages and
abilities is a model for communities
around the country. Everyone involved
in making this possible is a
true community champion, and we
are honored to partner with you to
make play possible for everyone. "
According to Emery, multiple
members of the Arch Street Park
Playground Committee have connections
to individuals with disabilities,
and this perspective has had a
dramatic impact on their desire to
create an inclusive playground. In
order to comprehensively address
the developmental needs of children,
the city relied on best practice
research conducted by PlayCore,
particularly their seven principles
of inclusive
playground
design.
This research specifies principles
that ultimately create an inclusive
and embracing 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 with Sinclair
Recreation.
Due to their commitment to
evidence-based research on inclusion
and social equity, the Arch Street
Park received a PlayCore National
Demonstration Site (NDS) recognition
for Inclusive Play. PlayCore's
NDS network includes playgrounds
that thoughtfully support playful
pathways, nature play, adult fitness,
youth physical activity,
and inclusion in
outdoor play and
recreation settings.
The vast
amount
of inclusive playgrounds
included
in the NDS network
exemplifies the surge
in inclusive playground
installations
during recent years.
Building Inclusion
When discussing inclusion,
the vast majority of people
will immediately think of providing
access to those with physical
disabilities, but playgrounds like
Arch Street Park challenge that
notion and highlight the many aspects
of inclusion and equity. In
addition to 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
in which users engage in some sort
of physical activity to " power-up "
the action. This may include turning
a handle, repeatedly pressing a
foot pedal or rotating a wheel. These
innovative products feature sensoryrich
experiences, like lights and music,
storytelling, or social games.
In addition to inclusion for people
of all abilities, playgrounds
like Arch Street Park are built for
people of all ages. Multigenerational
play is incredibly beneficial
for numerous reasons for both
adults and children. Studies show
that children who play with adults
demonstrate
(tinyurl.com/3wkvkvrw) also
greater creativity
and higher levels of language and
problem-solving skills. Recent studies
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 children's 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 (tinyurl.com/
sws5cwrk), park and recreation professionals
are constructing inclusive
play environments that go well beyond
basic ADA compliance.
Logan Garrett is Media Relations Coordinator for
Mace+Carmichael (logan@macecarmichael.com).
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https://www.tinyurl.com/3wkvkvrw http://www.tinyurl.com/sws5cwrk http://www.tinyurl.com/sws5cwrk
October 2021 - Parks & Recreation

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