GameTime pioneered inclusive outdoor play environments. In 1974, we developed a range of accessible playground equipment and, in the 1980s, created the first commercially available composite play structure with ramped access.
Since then, GameTime has innovated new ways to ensure everybody has access to play and recreation, creating many inclusive industry firsts, such as adaptive swing seats, sensory climbers, and playground nets.
Behind every inclusive playground product is a team of passionate people who advocate for inclusive play. One of those inclusive champions is Kent Callison, GameTime's Director of Marketing. We asked him about one of GameTime's newest inclusive innovations and why inclusive playground design is essential.
Q: What's the New

 
Inclusive Innovation From Gametime?
A: Our newest and one of the most exciting innovations from GameTime is the Aventus Tower. Playground towers have long been a source of frustration among accessibility advocates. GameTime has worked with landscape architects to design custom towers over the years, but customers wanted a standard playground tower that was accessible and visually exciting. To meet that need, we turned to an expert for some fresh ideas: Bill Botten.
Bill recently retired from the U.S. Access Board. He helped write portions of the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Standards for play and recreation facilities and has been at the forefront of the accessibility movement in the United States for decades. GameTime enlisted Bill's advice on creating a playground tower that's inclusive as possible.

Q: How Do You Make a Playground Tower More Accessible?
A: We started with a new transfer platform. Transfer platforms and systems have existed for decades, but that doesn't mean we can't improve them. With guidance from Bill, we designed an innovative transfer system that makes it easier for users to transfer. It has wider steps and platforms, built-in handholds on both sides and handgrips at three different levels to accommodate a wide range of users and abilities.
Once users access the structure, they experience a new way to continue exploring. We added our SureGripTM textured surfaces to a curved, ascending climber. Along the sides are handholds that provide extra grip for users who want to scoot or crawl along the pathway. We included handrails at the top and bottom for added support and assistance, and handgrips at the top make it easier to transfer to the tower's highest point. Another innovation found in Aventus is the Inclusive Play Pocket. These fun, cozy spaces are installed along the path to the top and out of traffic flow. They're provided at a transfer height, making it easy for anyone to take a break or interact with sensory play activities. These are only a few innovations that make Aventus Tower an inclusive game- changer. When we introduced Aventus to the public, Bill Botten called it "one of the most inclusive composite play structures he's ever worked on."
Q: Why is Inclusive Play Important to You?
A: I'm a parent of a child with a disability, so I tend to look at every playground or park through that lens. I think about how our products and the spaces we design can create equitable experiences for everyone. It wasn't so long ago that people with disabilities were marginalized by society, but that has changed. My daughter has a job, attends college, and has a group of friends who accept her for who she is. She's one of millions of people with a disability who are included in society, and I think that's because we've spent the last few decades focused on creating outdoor spaces where children see one another as equals. That's how you improve things. You start with positive changes and interventions at an early age, and now we see the result of that work. I can think of no greater endeavor or mission than to create a world in which everyone is included.
Q: What's Next for GameTime in the Area of Inclusive Play?
We've been designing play environments for almost 100 years. There is always a need to change, evolve, and innovate. Aventus Tower is our latest endeavor to bring accessible and inclusive play to communities, but it won't be the last.
Play is where we belong. Our commitment is to enrich childhood through play and create ever-increasing inclusive and accessible play environments everyone can enjoy.