When the City of North Charleston decided to revitalize the centerpiece of its historic Park Circle neighborhood, an opportunity arose to create a true legacy space. Recognizing the need for a playground for all - all abilities and all ages - the city tasked local landscape architecture and civil engineering firm HLA, Inc. and architecture firm Red Iron Architects with designing a space for the community that would include what would become what Forbes calls the world's largest inclusive playground.

Project History
Park Circle - originally designed in 1912 as a garden city uniquely nestled between the Cooper River and Filbin and Noisette Creeks - is an immensely popular, walkable community that contains an 11-acre circular park enveloped by greenspace and modest residences originally built for workers at the nearby naval base and factories. Located mere steps away from the park, a quaint-but-vibrant downtown is home to busy restaurants and businesses.

Although the park had always been the focal point, it began to show its age, and it became apparent that it was time for the underutilized park to undergo a renovation. HLA worked with the City of North Charleston from the early planning process through land surveying, feasibility, master plan studies.

Project Process
As user input was crucial to a successful outcome, the city hosted departmental engagements with HLA's assistance. These early, due-diligence efforts led to a full project redevelopment. Red Iron Architects, Carolina Parks and Play, the playground consultant/ supplier, and Landscape Structures, Inc., the equipment manufacturer, joined the team.
The playground consultant worked with Kathy Kackley, deputy director of the North Charleston Recreation Department who was attributed with creating the project's vision, on the overall playground design. Then, Kat Stafford and Amy Chico with HLA designed and fine-tuned the playground. Robbins Construction Group, credited with expediting the playground, rounded out the project lead lineup.

 
With the team assembled, goals were then outlined. Two vital considerations included maintaining the neighborhood charm while updating the park as well as incorporating passive and active play zones. It was determined that fully inclusive play areas were lacking in this region, so the client and design team envisioned not only revitalizing and expanding upon the park's existing programs, but also creating an impactful, inclusive playground as the highlight of the park. The new park remains an attractive central gathering area while providing much-needed modern public amenities.

A Park Full of Features
Besides the playground, the park includes an inclusive ballfield, a fresh community building with new offices for the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department, a farmers market pavilion, flexible event space available for public use, an art-rehearsal studio, an artist-in-residence studio, meeting room, history and archives repository, nature garden, expanded walking trails, open green space, and picnic tables. The city's desire was to further encourage the neighborhood's existing walkability and minimize vehicular parking impacts. A grassy area is utilized for overflow parking, but pedestrian and bike accessibility has been successful.

Making it Inclusive
While the new amenities are welcome on their own, the inclusive playground has indeed proven to be the highlight of the park's rebirth. The 55,000-square-foot space focuses on all children playing together in one location with activities that stimulate, support, challenge, and inspire them physically, cognitively, emotionally, and socially.

As the City of North Charleston's website states, "All children means everyone. The need for play does not distinguish between children who are typically developing and children with disabilities. Everyone of all abilities needs play. And everyone means not only children with a physical disability requiring an accessible playground, but it also includes developmental disabilities like autism, children with sight or hearing impairments, and children with intellectual disabilities such as down syndrome."

For Kids of All Ages
The client and design team consulted with the equipment designer and manufacturer on the playground apparatus and materials. Continuing with the goal to include everyone, multiple play categories were established and grouped by age for safety considerations. The play pods for children 6-23 months and 2-5 years include structures nearer to the ground, with equipment becoming more challenging as the intended user age progresses.

A challenge coarse and exercise stations for users ages 13 years and older were also incorporated into the plan. In addition to traditional physical play structures, there is a fully accessible sensory and musical play area. Elements such as accessible and double swings were interspersed with traditional swings. Stainless steel slides that deter static disruption for children with cochlear implants were incorporated alongside plastic slides.

A poured-in-place rubberized ground surface connects the playground areas and, when partnered with slides accessing elevated play equipment, allows for wheelchair mobility throughout. During the planning process, the team identified unique issues relative to wheelchair accessibility, mainly: how do you maintain motorized wheelchair charges during lengthy play?

Multiple wheelchair charging stations were installed at ground level for easy accessibility, allowing users to extend their visit beyond their wheelchair battery charge. Another consideration specific to this playground was gate accessibility for wheelchairs. The gate handles were therefore designed to push open from both sides, allowing for easier access whether entering or exiting the playground area. Yet another wheelchair-friendly design feature is the inclusive ballfield with its non-traditional artificial turf system that permits wheelchair accessibility and utilizes a softer material to allow for conventional field play, as well.

Seeing as the park is located in the coastal, South Carolina low country, the humid summer heat can be restrictive for outdoor play. Since the client and all members of the design team were local, they understood that the weather could not be changed, so they addressed the issue through an extensive shade sail canopy that covers the playground. Cooling misters were also incorporated, which provide much-needed relief during the warm summer months.

Proof of Success
The November 2023 grand-opening weekend cemented the community's overwhelming excitement for the long-awaited park rejuvenation. Hundreds showed up that day, and the park continues to draw diverse crowds who simply want to enjoy time at play. This project sets a precedent for future public park spaces.

"To see the public support and to experience everyone being able to play together in one space is highly rewarding," says HLA Senior Vice President, Amy Chico, PLA, ASLA.

"We believe we can better our communities through our work, and this project is a living example of that statement."