A Special Playground

The sturdy and resilient bubbled plastic window is an inclusive play feature barrier conceived to give kids with special needs a way to feel secure while interacting with other kids.

When designing playgrounds, research is the key. Thanks to the kids at Southview School, Little Tikes Commercial was able to create a playground that catered to the individual needs for some very special kids.

Last spring, initial planning went in to motion at Southview School in St. Louis to design a playground that would suit both able bodied kids and kids with disabilities.

What emerged was a state-of-the-art playground that offered ?EUR??,,????'??equity play,?EUR??,,????'?? or play that provides fun for kids of all abilities. Now, thanks to collaborating efforts students have a place where everyone can play, get exercise and be equals, all while having fun.

The manufacturer used punched steel as opposed to expanded steel for greater strength.

?EUR??,,????'??The Holy Grail, in what we call inclusive play, is when you can get a child who is able-bodied to interact with a child with a disability,?EUR??,,????'?? says Mark Engel, director of marketing for the Little Tikes Company. ?EUR??,,????'??That was our goal. We wanted to truly understand the needs of these children to create a playground that would help break down barriers for kids of all abilities.

Serving students with developmental disabilities and students with behavior disorders, Engel was looking to Southview to do research on a product called Swing Seat. According to Engel, the school resembled a laboratory in which they could study the play environment and match the needs of the school. What emerged from the project was a playground that was not only unique in design, but also functional for everyone at Southview.

The ?EUR??,,????'??swiss cheese?EUR??,,????'?? design of the hard plastic Infinity Climber gives more able-bodied kids climbing challenges.

?EUR??,,????'??Some companies just want to sell a playground and move on,?EUR??,,????'?? explains Engel. ?EUR??,,????'??We involve the whole management team, the faculty and the kids. What we learned from this project can now be applied to parks and campuses around the country.?EUR??,,????'??

Building on Theme

It was important for both sides to understand each other in developing this playground. According to Engel, understanding the needs of your community and the range of abilities of the subject is how theme is built into a project.

?EUR??,,????'??All kids can imagine,?EUR??,,????'?? says Engel. ?EUR??,,????'??Building theme is important from a cognitive perspective. All playgrounds should encourage imagination.?EUR??,,????'??

Poured-in-place recycled rubber leads up to the playground. The Fire Truck play structure has a steering wheel that turns; molded-in firefighters' tools on the inside; 3D panels with realistic graphics; bumper assembly with grill for authenticity; 44 inch tires with realistic tread and space to crawl through. Ramps, walkways, and slide components extend the play area fun.

Challenging the variety of kids at Southview was a major focus in the design of the playground. Some of the designs include ramps that are wide enough for wheelchairs to pass, while challenging them with different rises and runs along with kids who have physical therapy needs. Children who are color-impaired can now navigate the playground faster via the meaningful color breaks, and finally a special bubble piece that allows children with emotional disabilities to interact and feel safe and secure with people on the other side. Also included was a Picture Communication Symbol board and a sign language panel to encourage the kids to communicate. Engel says their design provided lots of shaded areas for the kids because many can be sensitive to sunlight, especially those on medication.

?EUR??,,????'??The playground that we had before was really old,?EUR??,,????'?? says Karen Kaufman, principal of Southview School. ?EUR??,,????'??It wasn?EUR??,,????'???t accessible to all of our students, but now it?EUR??,,????'???s no longer a worry. Students can access the playground independently. For the most part, a staff member doesn?EUR??,,????'???t need to provide side-by-side assistance anymore.?EUR??,,????'??