As Aurora in Sleeping Beauty said, "If you dream a thing more than once, it's sure to come true." This impassioned and optimistic approach was central to O'Dell Engineering's development and revitalization of May Nissen Playground in Livermore, California. Formerly an almost unusable play space, plagued by high-crime and deteriorating, outdated equipment, a group of determined and visionary community members engaged the park district with an idea to create a socially inclusive playground that could be accessible to, and treasured by, all. The result was a magical play space themed around the fairy tales and fables found in the adjacent library (Jack and the Beanstalk in particular). A new gathering space was needed to help combat local issues such as vandalism, vagrancy, childhood obesity, anti-social tendencies, lack of inclusion, and inaccessibility. As an ever-increasing focus on technology and the amount of time being spent indoors on devices continues to escalate, library staff dreamed of an outdoor space that provided access to fresh air, nature, and the opportunity to share the magic and passion of literature in new and inviting ways. From this dream, the notion of the May Nissen Playground was born, complete with an outdoor elevated stage large enough for literature-centric events, spontaneous musical expressions and youth drama productions, but small enough for individual story time and best friend jam sessions. As the first 100% socially inclusive playground in the area, May Nissen Playground provides fair, inclusive, smart, independent, safe, active, and comfortable play opportunities for every user, while helping to instill a passion for play, exploration, and reading in children and adults alike. The result of a passioned team of district staff, community members, and designers, May Nissen Playground is a magical, inviting, and engaging space designed for all to enjoy. After all, who doesn't want to step into a fairy tale and immerse themselves in a world of imagination?
The Need

 
Since the inception of New York's Central Park in 1858, public open spaces have been a benefit to society by encouraging full access to areas where citizens can recreate, relax, and escape the rigors of urban life, regardless of their economic status, age, occupation, ethnicity, or gender. In the years since that effort began, however, some members of society are still unable to use these open spaces and are still waiting for someone to recognize their need. Those typically left on the sidelines include: persons with disabilities, individuals on the autism spectrum and those with moderate to severe sensory processing disorders. The mission of the May Nissen Playground is to address inequality of access to recreation and play through the development, maintenance, and programming of a socially inclusive and sensory integrated play space designed specifically to break down barriers that inhibit children, siblings, adults, and grandparents from participating in play with each other. This model could be utilized anywhere throughout the country and has captured the attention of other non-profit organizations with similar goals.
Children with disabilities are one of the largest under-served minority groups in our nation. Of children between the ages of 3 and 21 years old, 8.9% have a disability. Of these, approximately 1.1% have a physical disability, 1.1% have a sensory disability, 19.1% have a communicative disability, 11.2% have a social/emotional disability, and 53.9% have an intellectual disability. Additionally, 2.2% have multiple disabilities and 10.1% have a chronic health impairment such as cancer. More locally to this project, 10.5% of California's general population face a disability. One in 68 children are diagnosed on the autism spectrum, and some studies are reporting 1 in 6 children show signs of sensory processing disorders. These numbers don't even take into account caretakers and family members that are unable to play and recreate because they are taking care of others. Disability is often misconstrued as inability to experience play because of limitations from their impairment.
Innovation
This project uses truly innovative methods based on research in occupational therapy and the medical fields to accomplish the goals of social inclusion, sensory integration, and inter-generational play. The project is designed to integrate sensory systems (a crucial component to childhood development) into the play environment, eliminating physical, sensory, and cognitive barriers from play. These barriers, unfortunately, have been a long-standing problem for some populations in our society including persons with disabilities, individuals on the autism spectrum, and those with moderate to severe sensory processing disorders. Society is accustomed to hearing about the five traditional sensory systems; however, there are three additional sensory systems often taken for granted. Individuals with sensory processing disorders must deal with these systems every day. These are the vestibular, proprioceptive, and interoceptive senses. These sensory systems are integrally tied to the others, but generally assist with balance, awareness in space, and internal body sensations. Imagine not being able to walk straight without touching a wall, or being unable to feel your arm in relation to your body, or being unable to recognize your body temperature, or being completely overwhelmed to the point of breakdown because you can't process sinus allergies. All of these are real situations for many in society and all are reasons they won't venture outside to public playgrounds. These are just a few examples of the many that exist for persons with disabilities (young and old). This playground has taken design to a new level, as every facet of the design is purposefully and carefully included to make every accommodation possible for community members (again, way beyond basic physical access). Even the smallest details like the location and type of water fountain button, to the rounded ball handle on the story ball was selected to make play more accessible, feasible, and enjoyable.
Plants are Part of Play
All plants in the project are chosen for low ratings on the Ogren's allergy scale as allergies that can be a significantly debilitating interceptive system challenge for a very broad population. Plants were also specifically chosen based on their ability to create shade, positive aromas, and for their production of interesting loose materials such as seeds, pods, leaves, cones, and flowers. Plants were also included to promote social interaction, as adults can take a sample to show children ways to make whistles, flower presses, and other crafts.
Walkways are designed with the absence of ramps and steep grades (despite reaching heights of up to 6') to minimize sustained physical effort and vestibular difficulty, but yet provide experiences with grade elevation (important to children with disabilities who rarely experience this) . Every activity is accessible, and yet provides graduating levels of difficulty to challenge and give opportunities to take risks in safe environments. Social skills are built upon and honed by activities that promote, suggest, and even require two or more individuals to participate, such as elevated water and sand play, dual-seat riders, spinners with multiple seats, side-by-side slides, and life-size gameboards with separated board spinners requiring cooperation and collaboration in order to play. Interoceptive system overload is moderated through ample shade, water features and a drinking fountain, food court areas, and a fully accessible restroom equipped for purposes of disability access. There are actually so many features devoted to disability inclusion in this project that an exhaustive listing of them is infeasible.