We are getting close to finalizing our playground design!

On Jan. 8 2013, senior designers from PlayCore Play & Park Structures met with Crossing Abilities to review our requirements and help us narrow down the design. The following pictures show where we're at. Although the design is still undergoing some revisions, this is likely to be very close to our final design. Click on any of the pictures to see a larger view, or read our Design Rationale Document or our flyer on How Crossing Abilities Helps Children of All Abilities, to understand our design choices.

 

Pictures courtesy of PlayCore Play&Park Structures - Recreation Brands Group.

Read Ken's trip report on his recent trip to visit "A Dream Come True Playground" in Harrisonburg, Virginia (a PlayCore playground) - or his trip report on visiting the sound garden (made by Harmony Park) at Leg Up Farms.

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 And the winners of our 2012 children's design contest are...

Ages 3-8                                    Ages 9-12                                 Ages 13-16

 

Ages 3-8:

First Place: Kyle Besecker (Age 6) "Kids Playground" 1 2 3

Kids Playground will be a place where loving people share with other people. On the pirate ship there will be a ramp where kids in wheelchairs can come up and steer the ship. The sand box will be up high so I can climb inside and my friends in wheelchairs can pull up along side and play with me in the sand. There will be a window to play drive up and where kids can look out. There will be a girls area where girls can play pretend. There will be a balance beam where kids can balance on, but if you fall down it will be soft.

Runner Up: Lindsey Baldwin (Age 6) "Fun For All Playground" 1

In my playground people of all ages and abilities can play together. The entire place will have poured-in-place rubber to make it easy for people with wheelchairs, strollers, and walkers to get around the playground. The upper level of the play structures are all wheelchair accessible and can fit children and adults. Kids with disabilities will be able to play with their friends and differences will disappear. There are plenty of opportunities for therapy, pretend play, and FUN for ALL! Everyone will love the Castle, Pirat Ship, and even Musical Instruments.

Runner Up: Tyler Mann (Age 8) "My All Inclusive Playground" 1

My playground includes activities for all sorts of people and it is gated. My playground has the following things: 50 foot Zip line with padding underneat, monkey bars, walking or wheelchair maze, water table @wheelchair height and 2 seats, tower with 4 ways to get to the top, balance bar with padding underneath, xylophone with wooden sticks to play, swings, trampoline with texture walls, break area with water fountains.

 

Runner Up: Charlotte DeRosa (Age 6) "Carnival Playground" 1

People that are on wheelchairs could go up the ramp onto the merry-go-round. People that are on wheelchairs could use there wheelchairs as the roller coaster carts. People that can't see could still have fun and have a drink or a snack.

 

Ages 9-12

First Place: Bianca Lorusso (Age 11) "Around The World"1

The playground I designed has many ramp entrances. The Banana swings are made out of hammock material. They have high backs and are flexible. There is braille on the "where to go signs". The metal is wrapped in foam material and the floor is a colored rubber.

Runner Up: Holly M. Seney (Age 9) "Sherwood Forest" 1

The theme of my ideal playground is castles. My playground will be for all children - from toddlers to teenagers and also for children with disabilities. The castle playground will have many castle structures that have slides, ladders, climbing bars, and bridges. I will also have some swings, sandboxes, rocking horses, see-saws, and spin tables. Besides the playground equipment, there will be picnic tables, activity tables, a grassy area with trees and shrubs. Also available will be drinking fountains, bathrooms, and a parking area with bike racks. There are many things to do at my playground, especially if you use your imagination. I have only two rules: have a lot of fun and no pushing, shoving or anything else that can hurt someone.

 

Runner Up: Chloe Buffone (Age 10) "Pocono Playground" 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

The Pocono Playground is a playground for all children and all abilities and is themed after the Poconos. It will allow children to play and learn all about the Poconos. The Pocono Walkway gives adults and children the ability to walk, bike and even wheelchair around the park while viewing the different park areas. Kids will love the Tree Playhouse, Tire Tree Swings, Animal Riding, Talking Trees, Tons of Fun area, a Mountain Climbing area for big to little kids and even a Storybook where every one of all ages can learn about the Poconos.

 

 Runner Up: Adam Deemer (Age 10) "Fun For Everyone" 1 2 3 4 5 6

My playground allows everyone to do the same hting no matter who you are. There are two baskets to shoot at that are different heights and three types of swings. The sidewalk is a squishy material so if you fall you won't get hurt. The dragon is crazy but safe because it is made from rubber. The opening to the castle is wide enough for wheel chairs to fit through. There is also a shade over the picnic tables.

 

Ages 13-16

First Place: Cristina Sanzi (Age 13) "Nature Alive!" 1 2 3 4 5

This playground puts abilities aside and just lets kids have fun. Kids won't be judged here. They can interact with other kids and grow as they play. It lets kid's minds' go wild and be imaginative. They can pretend like they're flying on the swings or up in a real tree on the playset. There are many things that apply to every kid, not just one. At the end of the day, it's not about your abilities or what you can or cannot do. It's about letting go and having fun with others.

Runner Up: Amelia Medici (Age 13) "Under The Sea" 1

My playground will have equipment designed for use by children with physical disabilities - those that accomodate wheelchairs and children with sensitivities to plastic slides. It will provide tactile stimulation, quiet places, and open areas. It will accomodate for visually and hearing impaired chidren in the learning activities area.

 

Runner Up: Adam Raseley (Age 16) "Utopia Playground" 1

This playground has a handicap ramp leading up to a slide that lands into a sandbox for a soft landing as well as monkey bars. For younger kids, it has a handicap ramp that either goes to a smaller slide or it leads to a bridge to the right. It also contains a tic-tac-toe game. In the middle it has a merry-go-round that has three normal spots and three that hold in place wheel chairs. The guard goes down one way for the entrance and stays upright the other way until it stops moving. Lastly, it contains a picnic table in the shade by a tree for kids to rest.

 Runner Up: Emily Taylor (Age 15) "Everybody's Park" 1

My playground will be a great place for every child because it will let every child be able to interact; it will have elements to it that every child will be able no matter their abilities, or age. It will be a fun playground that every child would want to play at!

 

Get Your Whole Family Involved!

Now that you've learned about Crossing Abilities, and that we're trying to build a playground for all children, get involved!  Tell your parents and friends about it! We need help to make it a reality. Crossing Abilities is run by volunteers, and we need plenty of people to help with fundraising, organizing, designing, and much more!  See the Get Involved page of this website, or email us at information@crossingabilities.org, or call us (see the About Us page of this website for phone numbers and individual email addresses). Or join us on Facebook!