Shane's Inspiration Boundless Play Unites Children by Diana Nagler Children use movement and physical activity as their main way of expressing emotion and excitement. Their unbridled energy is matched by their innate need to explore their environment. Since a child's language skills are not yet fully developed, having the opportunity to visit a playground and participate in the fun is particularly important. Through interactive play and physical motion, children can communicate without uttering a word. The open space of a playground gives visitors the chance to create their own world of magic and imagination. But what happens when a child in a wheelchair visits the typical neighborhood park and can't access the play area? Or when someone utilizing physical support can't use the play equipment? Not only does this send a message of segregation and isolation, but it also denies these children their fundamental right to interact with others. In the process, they are also denied the right to experience the same level of enjoyment. Boundless Possibilities Boundless Playgrounds is an organization that tries to solve the problem of exclusion by providing truly accessible playgrounds. Inspired by Executive Director Amy Jaffee Barzarch and her husband Peter Barzarch, the grassroots movement was founded in 1997 by a team of parents, professionals, and community leaders. Headquartered in Bloomfield, Connecticut, the team created the first boundless playground in 1996 called Jonathan's Dream, memorializing the Bararch's nine-month old son. The universally accessible 25,000 square-foot playground is located in Hartford, Connecticut, and has come to serve as a model for accessibility by paving the way for 12 other similar playgrounds nationwide, with 4 more to be completed by December, 2000. The objective of the group is to complete 1,000 such playgrounds nationwide so that every child is within one hour of a universally accessible playground. Working within the spirit of the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act, Boundless Playgrounds attempts to create an environment where the typical child can play together with children who have physical, sensory and developmental disabilities. The organization works with schools, municipalities, families, and civic groups providing technical support and guidance in all aspects of playground design, fund raising, and project management. "We're a consulting group that specializes in collaboration to achieve the objective of integrated play," said Jean Schappet, Director of Design for Boundless Playgrounds. "Our philosophy is that all playgrounds need to be improved to enable children to play at their highest ability." In order for a playground to be considered boundless, it must adhere to the guidelines set up by the organization. With over 25 years in the industry, Schappet says she has a personal commitment to positively influence the self-image of children through play. Having served on several committees for the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), along with being the current chair of the Public Use Playground Equipment Falls Subcommittee, Schappet specializes in playground safety and developmentally appropriate design. She also serves as an advisory board member for the National Program for Playground Safety and is a Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI). One of Schappet's roles is to modify existing play structures so that they meet specific criteria (See list of criteria on page 62). Living Legacy Shane's Inspiration is located within Griffith Park, the largest municipal park in Los Angeles, California. As the state's first boundless playground, the location will feature fully accessible playground equipment. With construction scheduled to end next month, the playground promises to bring children of all abilities together. "Physically challenged children need a place where they can play independently, and Shane's Inspiration will provide it," said Los Angeles City Councilman Mike Feuer, whose motion allocated two acres of land for the playground. "It should set a new standard for public playgrounds." Catherine Curry-Williams and Scott Williams developed the idea for the park in memory of their 2-week-old son Shane Alexander, who was born in 1997 with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). After reading about Jonathan's Dream, the couple decided to create a similar playground for Shane. "Since Jonathan also had SMA, I connected to the story immediately," said Curry-Williams. The process of planning the park became a positive way for the couple to deal with their loss. In just two years, the team raised close to $2 million for the playground. "This project has helped us heal," said Curry-Williams. "Our son's memory is alive within the creation of this park." The Design The playground was partly planned by disabled children themselves in a series of workshops held by Shane's Inspiration Foundation, a non-profit organization established by the Williams. The National Resource Center for Boundless Playgrounds (NRCBP) completed a conceptual layout of the play equipment for Shane's Inspiration, which was combined with the results of the children's workshops. The landscape architectural firm of Melendrez Babalas Associates in Los Angeles, California, were responsible for transforming these ideas into an interactive play environment. "The unique thing about Shane's is that it's an accessible park with age-appropriate sections for toddlers, pre-school, and school age children," said Schappet. "No one is left out." The original site consisted of a playground with a heavily-used play structure set in a kidney-shaped sand area. There were drinking fountains and picnic benches, along with an adjacent restroom building surrounded by mature trees such as oaks, sycamores, and pines. None of the existing features at the site were accessible to children with disabilities. The objective for the landscape firm was to develop a plan to preserve most of the layout, taking into consideration site constraints such as grades, and preserving the canopy of existing trees. The new playground will include a 200-foot-long boardwalk structure with themed airplane, ship, and rocket ship platforms for imaginative play. Another prominent area of the park contains a sand castle structure which is elevated over a sand moat where all children can play at the sand tables and chutes. The park will also have a tricycle and wheelchair path with play services including a gas station and drive-through restaurant, and a ball playing area with lowered hoops. Melendrez Babalas Associates created a 30' x 30' butterfly garden surrounded by a 6" raised curb decorated with colorful ceramic butterfly tiles. The path that encircles this area gives children the chance to view the plants and butterflies up close. Plant materials such as Abelia 'Edward Goucher', Achillea H. 'Moonshine', Buxus M.J 'Green Beauty', Erigeron G 'Wayne Roderick', Heuchera Sanguinea, and Salvia Greggii 'Annie' were selected because they attract butterflies and can grow in a partially shaded area. The path also continues towards the stage area which contains pre-cast benches from Dura Art Stone. Manufactured by Landscape Structures in Delano, Minnesota, the play structures were modified by Shappert to make them wheelchair-accessible. "The primary prerequisite for the playground was to make sure that all play events were accessible." said Schappet. Special attention was paid to the equipment to guarantee that all children will be able to enjoy the colorful, themed structures. "I'm very protective of the children at the park. The last thing I want is to have inaccessible equipment at the park," said Curry-Williams. A New Beginning "The most exciting part of this project will be when the kids, who have been waiting so long for this playground, will actually get to play," said president Lauren Melendrez. "This project will allow us to re-evaluate and improve playgrounds for all children. Each playground should be even more accessible and more successful than the last," said Melendrez. The organization has not only affected children's lives, it has also affected the lives of everyone involved in the project. "Three years ago, I would have never thought my life would change so drastically," said Curry-Williams. The former actress presently focuses all of her energy on the boundless philosophy. And now that Shane's Inspiration has been designated as the West Coast Resource Center for Boundless Playgrounds, her commitment will continue to grow. "Children need a place to be appreciated and accepted, and Shane's Inspiration provides that." Not only has the project helped her heal, it has also provided a joyful and lasting legacy for her son. What started out as tears of pain, have been transformed into tears of laughter for the next generation of children. LASN