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ERIC ED495434: Playgrounds Where All Kids are Able to Play PDF

2007·1.1 MB·English
by  ERIC
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PPllaayyggrroouunnddss WWhheerree AAllll KKiiddss AArree AAbbllee ttoo PPllaayy Communities Mobilize for Children of All Abilities Playgrounds Where All Kids Are Able to Play CCoommmmuunniittiieess MMoobbiilliizzee ffoorr CChhiillddrreenn ooff AAllll AAbbiilliittiieess In 1931, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation established the first school in point for communities to mobilize resources to create fully integrated, universally for integration and disability issues. accessible play environments for all children. the United States to integrate regular and special education students in the classroom. In honor of its 75th Anniversary in “Play is an absolute necessity for the Much of the inspiration for Boundless development of children’s language, motor, Playgrounds (BP) came from its cofounder 2005, the Foundation is supporting a statewide effort in Michigan to and social skills,” says Gail McClure, vice and executive director Amy Jaffe Barzach help communities build fully integrated, universally accessible president for Youth and Education Programs. and her desire to honor the short life of her “The idea behind the Able to Play Project is son, Jonathon, who died of spinal muscular playgrounds and raise awareness about the benefits of children of that these new play areas will be inclusive atrophy in 1995. Together with hundreds all abilities playing together. of all children—no one is left out.” of volunteers and donations, Barzach’s community built a special, inclusive Imagine a childhood in which monkey bars In response, the Kellogg Foundation’s Youth This is precisely the vision of the National playground in memory of Jonathon. After are out of reach, seesaws are too and Education team is funding the Able to Center for Boundless Playgrounds,® the an article appeared in “Time” magazine, dangerous, and slides don’t accommodate Play Project, a special effort to build nonprofit organization coordinating the the phone began ringing. The concept of you. For too many children with special barrier-free playgrounds throughout Michigan. project. The Connecticut-based group was “boundless playgrounds” touched a nerve. needs—especially children who are These are playgrounds that not only greatly established in 1997 by a team of parents physically challenged—play can be expand play opportunities for children with and child development professionals that In 1998, Boundless Playgrounds grew, restricted and frustrating. special needs but also serve as a rallying was dedicated to working with communities expanding with a grant from the Hasbro Children’s Foundation to launch a national What makes a Boundless awareness campaign and to fund technical Playground unique? assistance to 24 communities. By mid-2003, BP had helped more than 60 communities in Although traditional playgrounds may have 21 states develop their own playgrounds. been built with consideration of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Now BP is launching a major statewide effort Boundless Playgrounds play environments in Michigan with a multimillion-dollar reach even higher to ensure that children Kellogg Foundation grant. Most of the award with and without disabilities can play will provide Able to Play challenge grants together, according to Jean Schappet, BP’s and technical, design, and support services to cofounder and creative director. 13 communities. “Boundless Playgrounds not only include the “We’re pleased these Michigan communities ADA focus on removing barriers to access, will have completed their learning and but also incorporate our organization’s construction by 2005 when we celebrate commitment to child development, rigor, and the Foundation’s 75th Anniversary,” says challenge for all children,” Schappet adds. the Foundation’s McClure. “The Able to Play “We believe in the importance of play as an Project ties in very appropriately with the opportunity for learning.” The process of creating Boundless original vision of Mr. Kellogg to help Playgrounds is also about children and create positive community In terms of barriers, federal guidelines require educating and changing change. This will continue that legacy.” that 50 percent of a playground’s elevated communities. structure be accessible. On larger playgrounds, Seven additional communities will receive 25 percent of the elevated play platforms “The more communities smaller “seed” awards and design mentoring must be ramped. By comparison, BP requires work with the people and services. Other Able to Play applicants will be that at least 70 percent of play activities serve children with disabilities, offered opportunities to attend BP’s “basic children with physical disabilities, allowing and the more young training” workshops that review special play for greater “integration” of all children. children of all abilities behavior and design criteria. play together, the more However, BP play spaces are not just about all kinds of barriers An ancillary component of the project wheelchair access. They are designed to includes a design competition that is address the needs of children with sensory Boundless Playgrounds are intended to have long-term impact on the and developmental disabilities, too. They designed to be fun, rigorous, art and science of playgrounds. Education are designed to be fun, rigorous, and and challenging places for and outreach programs along with an challenging places for all children—not allchildren—not just special upgraded Web site will provide help. just special needs kids. needs kids. Play Is Vital to Children’s disappear,” says Leslyn Odom Clark, BP Able to Play project will bring to Michigan— strategic planning process that involves adult director of programs. these play environments will serve as stakeholders and children with and without Development catalysts where people will see what a disabilities. Then, BP and Center designers BP staff say that their playgrounds become playground can be and want to push their will work in collaboration with local Children, regardless of ability or a focal point for both children’s play and own community to do something just like it.” landscape architects, architects, builders, disability, learn to navigate their world community change. design professionals, and playground project through play. Evidence from research Boundless Playgrounds is working with the committees to develop play environments into brain development shows that “People drive hours to experience a Pittsburgh-based Center for Creative Play, a that meet the Able to Play criteria. challenging environments like well- Boundless Playground,” says Schappet. nationally recognized leader in indoor designed playgrounds will encourage “When they go back to their own spaces. The Center will work with Boundless Then there’s the matter of cost. There is no social, emotional, physical and cognitive communities, their expectations have been Playgrounds to help two Michigan grantee average cost of construction. But with such growth for children.1 completely changed. They begin to demand communities first develop and then features as added ramps, educational that kind of play space. implement indoor projects. activities, and safe, navigable ground One in ten children has some type of surfaces, the total cost can range from disability that makes it hard or “It’s market-driven,” she adds. “Playground The Michigan sites will receive assistance $150,000 to $400,000 or more. Able to Play impossible for them to play on a equipment manufacturers respond to from BP and the Center, including coaching challenge grants will give each grantee a traditional playground. Boundless customers’ needs. We’ve already begun to on how to raise matching funds, plan, build, strong start, but each grantee must mobilize Playgrounds projects are designed with see that up to 12 additional playgrounds are and involve the community even more in its community to raise other financial and a difference. More than 70 percent of spawned from each Boundless Playground their play environment projects. First, each in-kind resources and, finally, drive the the playground is universally accessible developed. That’s the beauty of what the community will assess its needs through a playground projects to completion. to children with physical disabilities, To encourage participation, workshops were incorporating sensory-rich activities. held throughout Michigan. Ultimately, grant As a result, children with physical, applications were received from every region sensory, and developmental disabilities, of the state. A national panel of judges and children without disabilities, can made up of doctors, educators, nonprofit actively, safely, and enjoyably play executives, and other professionals reviewed together, each at their own highest the applications. level of ability. “The judging was weighted in favor of Often the play activities and equipment applicants that demonstrated real community included specifically for children with collaboration,” says Dianne Noth, senior special needs are especially enjoyed by director of operations for Boundless children without disabilities, who Playgrounds, “as well as commitment to the could play anywhere. concept of children and people of all ages and all abilities being able to play together.” 1 “Play is Essential for Brain Development,” Visit www.abletoplay.org and take a “virtual tour” of published by the Children’s Institute for Learning and Brain Development a groundbreaking Boundless Playground effort. Able to Play includes a component that promises to have long-term impact The Able to Play Project is funded by a on the art and science special grant that is part of the W.K. Kellogg of playgrounds. Foundation’s 75th Anniversary, which will be formally celebrated in 2005. W.K. Kellogg himself recognized the limited options and resources for children and families with special needs. After an accident, Mr. Kellogg’s grandson, Kenneth, was permanently disabled. “[Al]though I was amply able to pay the medical … bills, I found it almost impossible to obtain adequate treatment for him … ,” he wrote. “This caused me to wonder what difficulties were in the paths of needy parents who seek help for their children when catastrophe strikes, and I resolved to lend what aid I could to such children.” Able to Play Project • Statewide Michigan effort to build • Scholarships for playground design fully integrated, universally accessible and development workshops offered playgrounds and raise awareness of to all other applicants the needs of children with disabilities • Through education and outreach— Educational Benefits of • Challenge grants ranging from including collaborating with universities Boundless Play $75,000 to $225,000 and technical and conference presentations— assistance will help 13 communities Boundless Playgrounds will seek to open playgrounds by 2005 influence future design of children’s After a Boundless Playground was built at the Baer School in Baltimore, Maryland, principal play environments Shari Huene-Johnson saw significant developmental growth in children with severe • Smaller seed grants and design disabilities. Before the playground was installed, these students averaged a developmental mentoring for 7 other communities growth of 1.7 months in each 6-month period. The rate more than doubled afterwards. will support the development of “That’s a phenomenal figure for us,” says Huene-Johnson, “and directly attributable to our additional playgrounds Boundless Playground, which we use as an outdoor classroom.” U.P. Community Rallies Around Playground YYoouutthh--PPoowweerreedd PPllaayyggrroouunndd iinn SSaanndduusskkyy I n Sandusky, Michigan, population just over 2,400, high “The students meet in my classroom every Tuesday school students are leading a communitywide effort to help morning, and I am just there for feedback. It’s their all children be able to play, using a powerful combination of meeting, and they throw their ideas out there. Beth youthful determination and drive. In fact, their Able to Play Morningstar has really been a go-getter.” effort began years before Able to Play was launched. There are only about 1,400 students in the entire school In November 2000, a group of high school students decided district. “What they lack in numbers they make up for in to “gift” a revitalized playground to their community. The enthusiasm,” says Lesacki. “When our community recreation K.I.D. Committee (Kids Illustrating Determination) was the director went to the first Able to Play grant writing meeting, brainstorm of a high school senior, Mandy Nesbit, who she came back with the impression that a community build rallied fellow students to begin raising money for new and idea was too labor intensive—that a company should be safe playground equipment for the city. Nesbit enlisted the hired to build the play structure. But our students wanted guidance of one of her teachers, George Lesacki, and the ownership. They said, ‘No way, we’re going to build it.’” teens went to work raising money. That’s exactly the community spirit that impressed “When Mandy graduated, I took over as president,” says Boundless Playgrounds. “With us, the community builds the Beth Morningstar, who had served as a volunteer in the playground with the guidance of professionals, and those project, and just finished her junior year at Sandusky High professionals do what needs to be done for safety and School. “We had been concentrating on fund-raising, but reliability,” says Debbie Midford, program manager at the when we learned about the Able to Play matching grant, we National Center for Boundless Playgrounds. “But it definitely were inspired to write the grant proposal.” takes a community effort.” “This is just the latest Lesacki is quick to point out that it was Morningstar who In Sandusky, it takes the kids. The community involvement in a series of community efforts the took the initiative to write the grant herself, then meet with lessons Nesbit learned in Sandusky have remained other students for their input. “She took it as a personal students have gotten behind.” important to her, even as she finished her freshman year at challenge and growth opportunity.” Northern Michigan University, nearly 400 miles from home. “I love getting involved,” she says. “It gives me a kind of joy Meanwhile, students continued fund-raising efforts, using Morningstar. “We’re a small community, and we are competing to make a difference.” After her first year in college, she’s every tool from can and bottle drives to a discount golf cart for funds with things like a new hockey arena the changing to a dual major in criminal justice and sale. Even the elementary schools have been involved community recently funded. But people here are very environmental science because, in part, it will provide through “Penny Wars,” in which elementary classes compete supportive and pull together.” opportunities to work with communities. by bringing in piles of pennies. By May 2003, the K.I.D. Committee had garnered $20,000 toward the Able to Play effort. “The students have really taken this idea and run with it,” When Nesbit learned Sandusky had received the Able to Play says Lesacki. “This is just the latest in a series of community grant, she skipped down the halls of her university “The entire community is behind us, from our school board efforts the students have gotten behind. We don’t look at dormitory, shouting for joy. to our local businesses. The Sanilac County Community the park project as that remarkable. It’s just the way young Foundation even awarded us a matching grant,” says people are here. UU..PP.. CCoommmmuunniittyy RRaalllliieess AArroouunndd PPllaayyggrroouunndd W hen your remote community averages 100 to 150 inches of who retired as school superintendent in January. “What it For Heather MacDonald, a social worker who is the parent of snow over a very long winter, providing indoor play means is that you have a community that’s working for a child with disabilities, the indoor play space will provide opportunities for children is a critical need. In their Able itself, using all of its resources, to do things for its children play opportunities unavailable anywhere in the Upper to Play proposal, the Sault Ste. Marie Able to Play Advisory of all abilities.” Peninsula. “The sensory play is very important to my Council made this need dramatically clear by including twelve-year-old daughter—she loves it,” says MacDonald, a photograph of a child One very creative feature of the Sault Ste. Marie play space is “and the fact that it will be available all year round in our bundled in winter gear, in that it will actually be a kind of hybrid—an outdoor Boundless own community is very exciting. a wheelchair, gazing at a Playground in an enclosed play space with a 25-foot ceiling. mound of snow covering the “It’ll be kind of like a playground in a gym,” says O’Conner, “Plus, I work with a lot of families who are really struggling, city’s outdoor playground. adding that such a play space will allow more independent and many of them can’t afford to have a lot of toys and Point made. play than do interior play spaces focusing on serving the things that are stimulating and fun in the home. But the Youth-Poweredidsable d,P whichl reqauire ymoreg staff rinvoolvemuent. nd ianbility tSo go asomenplaced neaurby, swithokut chyarge, is really Even more dramatic was going to help them.” the way the community O’Conner points out that approximately 16 percent of the rallied around the effort to young people ages 5 to 20 in the community have some kind become an Able to Play grantee. Just three years before, of disability. “We wanted a place where all kids could play the community had thrown its support behind an outdoor together, those with and without disabilities. This will add playground project, and the Council was a little concerned tremendously to what young children can do during our there might be a “been there, done that” attitude about long, harsh winters.” supporting an indoor play space. McLain adds that the indoor Boundless Playground project The concern was unwarranted. “There was still so much will serve a far larger area than relatively isolated Sault Ste. energy and enthusiasm for doing something like this Marie. “We will literally serve most of the Upper Peninsula, together,” says Kerry O’Conner, who chairs the Board of parts of Canada, and expect to draw visitors from the Directors for the Chippewa Community Foundation. northern Lower Peninsula as well. Altogether, we expect to draw visitors from a 350-square-mile area.” Tony McLain, chair of the Sault Ste. Marie Able to Play Advisory Council, completely agrees. “We invited a handful An additional draw for the Sault Ste. Marie Able to Play of key people to help put together the Able to Play proposal, project is that it plans to combine the best of universally but before long we had volunteers coming forward from accessible play spaces with regularly changing educational everywhere in the community. This kind of project has really experiences, such as interactive exhibits about Upper built community will and energy. Peninsula history and culture, separately funded by local efforts. “We want to meet the needs of universal accessibility “I’ve spent most of my career working in communities that to all children, while also providing educational opportunity really don’t have the resources that many communities on a lot of different levels,” says O’Conner. “This will provide have, and to see our community come together like this, an experience that kids will want to come back to over and around a project like this, is really fulfilling,” says McLain, over during the year.” Able to Play Grant Recipient Contact Information Major Challenge Grant Recipients* Design Grant Recipients** Youth Sport and Recreation Commission Saginaw Community Foundation West Ottawa Public Schools Dad Butler Playfield, Detroit Kochville Township Woodside Elementary School, Holland Carla Giles,Program Director Lucy Allen,President/CEO Jon Manier,Principal 313-963-8916 989-755-0545 616-786-1900 45 Wintonbury Avenue [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Bloomfield, CT 06002 Phone: (860) 243-8315 Washtenaw Intermediate School District Watersmeet Township School People’s Community Services Fax: (860) 243-5854 High Point School, Ann Arbor Watersmeet Township School, Watersmeet Delray Memorial Park, Detroit www.abletoplay.org Jan Culbertson,Honey Creek Community Gwen Pierce, Project Coordinator Thomas Cervenak,Executive Director www.boundlessplaygrounds.org School Board President 906-358-4506 313-554-3111 734-663-1910 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Hillman Community Education Foundation Wing Lake Developmental Center Junior League of Kalamazoo Hillman Township Tournament Park, Hillman Wing Lake Developmental Center, Bloomfield Hills Upjohn Park, Kalamazoo Tom Carlson,President Cindy Seguin,Instructional Assistant Carol McGlinn,Past President 989-742-4255 248-341-7900 269-388-6009 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Sault Ste. Marie Play Advisory Committee Baraga County Community Foundation City of Wyoming Sault Ste. Marie Keweenaw Bay Children’s Center, Keweenaw Bay One Michigan Avenue East Metropolitan Health Village, Wyoming Battle Creek, MI 49017-4058 Dr. Tony McLain,Chairman Gordette Cote,Executive Director Rebecca Rynbrandt,Director of 906-632-1829 906-353-7898 Phone: (269) 968-1611 Parks and Recreation [email protected] [email protected] TDD on site •Telex: 495-3028 616-261-3520 Fax: (269) 968-0413 [email protected] Battle Creek Community Foundation Ingham County Parks Bailey Park, Battle Creek Hawk Island County Park, Lansing www.wkkf.org/YE Lansing School District David Lucas,Trustee Brian Collins,Assistant Parks Manager Henry H. North Elementary School, Lansing 269-965-7000 517-676-2233 Rena Baxter,Committee Chair [email protected] [email protected] 989-224-1608 [email protected] Flint Community Schools Detroit Open School Parent Council Summerfield/Longfellow Schools, Flint Detroit Open School, Detroit Sanilac County Community Foundation William DeFrance,Chief of Operations Chris Seguin, Ed.D., Council Member Sandusky City Park, Sandusky 810-760-1256 313-273-6872 Beth Morningstar,Sandusky Park [email protected] [email protected] Project Coordinator 310-648-2055 Life Services System Lenawee Community Foundation [email protected] Life Services System, Holland Ellis Park, Blissfield Deanna DePree,Executive Director Billie Patton,Chairperson 616-396-7566 517-486-5599 1400 S. Braddock Avenue [email protected] [email protected] Pittsburgh, PA 15218 * $75,000–$225,000 each ** $25,000 each Phone: (412) 371-1668 www.center4creativeplay.org These will be Center for Creative Play™ indoor play spaces. YO/ED 4206 • item #410A • 07032.5M.Gargoyle Graphics • Printed on Recycled Paper

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