Foundation event on Feb. 20 offers chance to sample equipment
By Dee Longfellow
For The Elmhurst Independent
What exactly is a Playground for Everyone? Do you think of it as having a wide variety of features that playsets outdoor grounds have? Do you think of it being something where all children can be included, regardless of age or size?
Well, imagine a playground where every child can participate in all elements of the design; where children of all abilities can play together; where acceptance, friendship, and understanding can be fostered through play. For many children with disabilities this may be the only place in their lives where they can swing, slide, climb, spin and play side-by-side with their siblings, friends and classmates without having to abandon their usual means of mobility.
According to the Elmhurst Park District web site, the vision for the Playground for Everyone at Butterfield Park is one of inclusion. Instead of stopping at a facility just for those with special needs, this will be a playground for all abilities – able-bodied children can play alongside their disabled peers or family members with equal challenge and enjoyment.
Upon the announcement of a special event called “Be A Kid Again,” hosted by The People for Elmhurst Parks Foundation (PEP) on Saturday, February 20 from 7-10:30 p.m. at Courts Plus, the Independent caught up with Ginger Wade, Director of Marketing and Communications for the Elmhurst Park District, who shared more information about the Playground for Everyone.
“This means that ALL children — abled and disabled –can play together with siblings and friends,” Wade said. “The real difference is, all parks are ADA-accessible, that’s required by law, but it only refers to wheelchairs, which is limiting. While there may be places available to the disabled, this [facility] includes access to the entire playground.”
It is also about a percentage of things available, she said.
“Most parks, including those in Elmhurst, have about 20% accessibility, that is, there are a few ground-level attractions that kids in wheelchairs or with other disabilities can safely use,” she said, “and that’s about all they can do — play on two or three pieces of equipment.”
But the point of the Playground for Everyone is that everything is accessible.
“Those in wheelchairs can get up to the highest points in the park so they can fully participate,” Wade said. “There are teeter totters for those with limited upper body strength. Kids can easily be lifted in and out of certain elements and be secure. All the park elements are planned so all can play together, those with disabilities can play side-by-side with their siblings and friends who are able-bodied.”
Research on play suggests that there is a great need to provide barrier-free outdoor facilities so all children have equal access to building life skills that are developed through play. Some children love to climb all over and explore playgrounds, whereas others like to be within these elements but have a more subdued play where they may participate in card games and check out Pokémon Cards For Sale, for example, to trade and have fun with friends whilst still being part of the ‘play theme’. Playgrounds should be available for any child who wants to be within that area with their friends or by themselves, no one should feel excluded.
“The interactions that happen at our playgrounds are a critical part of helping kids understand what makes every person unique,” she added.
In addition, the park will contain sensory elements.
“For those with autism, for example, there are lots of things which are sensory rich,” Wade said.
“There are things that make noise, have gears, things to manipulate, things to see, feel, even for the blind.
“There is actually room for two wheelchairs to go to the top of a piece of equipment. This means not only can a disabled child take his or her wheelchair to the top, but also Grandma with her walker can get up there right beside them.”
“Park on Steroids” requires more funding
“We call it a Playground on steroids, because everything is bigger,” Wade continued. “The whole playground is bigger. Of course, every time you make things bigger, it adds significantly to the cost.
“Special Kids Day came to us with the idea, but we had to wait for the right [time and place]. We obviously cannot put this at the Jaycees Tot Lot for example, there’s simply not enough room. We need extra parking, accessible restrooms.
“And we wanted to be available not just to Elmhurst, but to people from other communities. Accessibility to get to the park itself is as important as access to play features once you’re there.”
Butterfield Park determined best location
“We knew Butterfield Park was up for [renovation in 2016] and that it would be a good fit [for the Playground for Everyone,” Wade said. “We did Washington Park two years ago, then East End Park in 2015, but this is the right park for this.
“[At Butterfield], there’s easy regional access off the expressway, it already has indoor bathrooms and lots of parking. And it’s big enough to accommodate such large structures.”
The Playground for Everyone would be one of a limited number of such playgrounds in the area, making it a destination for families in surrounding communities.
“We usually budget about $350,000 for typical playground – it is in the budget every year,” Wade said. “But it will cost more like $600,000 for this kind of park so we’ve been asking the Foundation (PEP) to raise more dollars to help fund the rest of it.”
She said the Park District had reached out to several community groups such as ECAF, Elmhurst Kiwanis, Kick Off for Kids, the Elmhurst Jaycees, even the Garden Club – and they all came to table.
“We’ve already raised about $125,000 of the $250,000 extra incremental dollars needed to make this happen,” Wade said. “We see Elmhurst as community stepping up and saying ‘this is important to us and for our neighbors as well.’ The reception from other groups has been outstanding. We held focus groups which allowed us to ask questions like, ‘What are the barriers that you see on the playgrounds where you take your children?'”
Recognizing this need, playground vendors have stepped up their game. Wade said the company providing the landscape structures has done inclusive parks before, which can be viewed on its web site.
“It used to be that if we wanted something accessible, it was boring, not really fun and certainly not fun to the able-bodied siblings or friends,” Wade said. “Now they have designers, people who work with kids and have designed pieces that are so much more. The able-bodied kids won’t even realize it’s for the disabled. They’ll just climb aboard and have a good time.”
If adults want a sample of what the equipment is all about, the upcoming “Be A Kid Again” event will answer a lot of questions.
“We’re going to have the actual equipment available for adults to try out, sit on, play on, etc.,” she said. “It will be indoors at Courts Plus on the tennis courts. It should be fun for grown-ups to play games and climb on equipment. There will be picnic tables, live music, and a chance to experience what it’s really like.”
“There are a lot of projects that people are lukewarm about, but virtually no one is against this,” said Jim Rogers, executive director of the Elmhurst Park District. “There is no question it fills a need and parents are excited about it.”
“The thing is, the disabled aren’t used to even going fast enough to get wind in their face,” Wade said. “Seeing their faces as they swing and slide and do things for the first time — things they may never have been able to do — it’s just heart-warming to see the joy in their faces.”
The project is planned for fall 2016.
To arrange for a presentation to your community group, Ginger Wade can be reached at (630) 993-8923 or [email protected] For more information, visit epd.org/butterfield-park-project#sthash.KGObpsF8.dpuf
