February 2016 - Parks & Recreation - 12

Community Center

A Park for All Abilities
By David Buzzell

hen you hear " inclusive playground, " what comes to mind? Frequently, the " inclusive playground " label is given to traditional playground structures that have incorporated accessible design principles that are often centered on individuals who use wheelchairs or
mobility devices. Make no mistake, traditional inclusive and accessible playgrounds
should be applauded because they provide places for play, development and socialization for individuals who might not otherwise be able to participate in these activities.
However, when you consider the
data related to individuals with disabilities, do these traditional design principles provide opportunities for all individuals with impairments, limitations
or challenges? That is the very question
we asked ourselves in 2008 when a
civic organization approached us, the
Round Rock Parks and Recreation
Department, with a $1,500 grant for a
swing for children with autism.
The Issue
One of the biggest challenges we
faced as we started designing the Play
for All Abilities Park (PAA Park) in
2008 was trying to communicate to
our citizens, council members and
business community that an inclu-

sive playground shouldn't only be for
those with visible or well-known disabilities, such as individuals who use
assistive devices or who have physical differences. It should accommodate the spectrum of disabilities,
including cognitive, developmental
or communication impairments, to
name a few.
The Process
While the park and recreation industry and playground manufacturers
should take pride in the strides made
over the past six to eight years, inclusive play and universally designed
playgrounds were very much in their
infancy in 2008 with regard to product availability and research. With

Children of all abilities enjoy the Round Rock Parks and Recreation Department Play for
all Abilities Park.
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that in mind, the Play for All Design
Task Force was created to ensure the
final design would address the developmental needs of as many individuals as possible. The task force included teachers and therapy specialists
in the educational setting, therapy
specialists and professionals in the
medical setting, parents of children
with disabilities, playground manufacturers, therapeutic recreation professionals and design professionals.
The different skill set and background each task force member
brought to the project enabled our inhouse park designers to understand
the stimulation and challenges for
the spectrum of children and adults
who would be using the park. This
was one of the most important processes/elements in the development
of the PAA Park and led to a number
of changes in the final design.
In 2009, we worked with various
civic organizations and park advocates to form the Play for All 501(c)
(3) Foundation. The foundation was
a critical element in our fundraising
efforts, as well as our marketing and
community awareness initiatives related to the PAA Park. Members of the
foundation used their networks to secure meetings with numerous business
and corporate entities, which resulted
in more than $100,000 in corporate
sponsors and one in-kind donation of
construction services valued at more
than $350,000. Combine these with
more than 2,000 community volunteer
hours and the city of Round Rock built
the $1.3 million Play for All Abilities
Park with slightly more than $600,000
in city funds.

February 2016 - Parks & Recreation

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