Possibility Playground - located in Dogwood Park, is the first newly developed playground for the city in over 20 years.
The thoughtfully executed, fully inclusive, accessible-to-all play space allows children of all abilities to play together. This new development bridged the gap for inclusivity in the community while providing an exciting, sought-out destination playground.
Brandstetter Carroll Inc. served as the architects, landscape architects, and civil engineers to fit this accessible facility into the site, with minimal removal of the trees.
The last time a new park was renovated in North Canton was in 2000. Unfortunately, The City of North Canton lost a major employer, the Hoover Sweeper manufacturing company, which employed over 3000 and was the city's largest income tax provider. Other than maintenance, no new development was possible. Dogwood Park had old metal swings from the 1970s and one jungle gym.
There was a lower depression area that was a natural ice-skating rink until 1981. The area had become unusable, but shade trees lined the area and was chosen as the perfect space to create the new Possibility Playground. The adjacent Dogwood Pavilion rental facility was also in need of renovation and the existing parking lot needed more parking spaces and a facelift.

Community Impact

 
In 2017, a resident asked if the city had an accessible playground for their wheelchair-bound special needs child. At that time, the city only had one accessible swing in one of the nine parks and all parks had wood mulch surface, so none were accessible. Another issue was that no park in the area was fenced in which led to planning for an all-access playground.
The loss of the Hoover company was not just financial, but emotional. While the community rebounded, the city saw this project as a valuable resource and as an opportunity to provide something new. The first large donation was from the Hoover Foundation.
The playground was selected by Kent State University's Audiology Department and The Greater Akron Autism Society for an Augmented Alternative Communication (AAC) for children with communication disorders an ability to interact and play with children and is set to be installed
in Spring 2024.

Achievement
The city developed a goal for an all-access playground and began the process of bringing community members together as the project a community collaboration. The local Masonic Lodge had available land adjacent to the park. They donated the land in an agreement to use it as additional parking with a new picnic pavilion. The walkway leading from that new parking lot to the playground provided another local collaboration. The North Canton Public Library used the pathway to develop the first Story Walk built in the area. Books featured have highlighted diversity and inclusivity of all people to achieve the goal of an inclusive play space for everyone.
Another goal was to preserve as much nature and trees as possible. The city hired the Davey Tree Company to assess the conditions of the trees to identify those most in need of removal or saving. This helped to guide the team in the design process. A 12,500 sq ft wooded area remains and may lead to future nature trail development.

Innovation
The innovative aspects of this project are the multiple funding partners, a variety of play options from toddlers to teens to meet all age groups, the mixing in of adaptive equipment throughout the park to truly provide an inclusive, not segregated, play experience, and meeting the challenge of fitting the new large playground, expanded parking, new 4 stall, ADA, unisex restroom facility, and two new picnic shelters in a demanding site with minimal disturbance to the trees.
A challenging aspect was that the design was accomplished during Covid and used Town Hall and stakeholder Zoom meetings for feedback.

Sustainability
Stormwater is collected in bio-swales/rain gardens to clean the water before entering the existing retention pond. The city intends to use this opportunity to teach the community about sustainable practices.
The city partnered with AEP (American Electric Power) on a sustainability road map plan that defines the integration of sustainability throughout city operations and establishes solutions, strategies, and measurable goals. AEP provided a grant for high-efficiency lighting throughout the newly developed park. In addition, the design team worked to save and protect as many trees as possible.

Outlook
The park now has a reputation as a well-designed place for children of all abilities to play and interact safely. One highly praised feature is the fence that fully encompasses the 12,500 sq ft playground. The playground has become a destination that draws people from surrounding communities, and unexpectedly young adult daycare facilities use the playground as there is nothing like it in the area.