When the Gandee family decided to do the CP Swagger to raise awareness for Cerebral Palsy, they did not imagine their efforts would spark an outpouring of support and donations for an inclusive playground. Those donations, and many hours of volunteer work from community members, launched the C.P. Swagger Playground. These inspirational efforts caught the attention of Soliant as they sought to celebrate the ten best inclusive playgrounds in the United States.
Soliant reviewed outstanding school playgrounds across the country based on several factors, including the utilization of inclusive playground design core principles, quantity, and quality of play features offered, and any unique inspirations or stories behind the development, funding, or name of the playground. These selected playgrounds go beyond minimum accessibility to offer play experiences for a wide variety of needs—for example, by offering braille features for students who are visually impaired and sensory-rich structures for students with developmental disabilities.
“We were absolutely blown away at the number and variety of inclusive playgrounds in schools nationwide, so much so that it felt nearly impossible to pick just ten. Here at Soliant, we feel grateful for this opportunity to spotlight ten playgrounds with incredible design and stories. Additionally, we extend our acclamation to the school educators and support staff who help push inclusivity further into education systems and continuously work to benefit the experience for all children—regardless of abilities,” Soliant Senior Vice President of Education Lesley Slaughter said.
Use this link to see “The 10 Best Inclusive School Playgrounds in America” released by Soliant. Douglas Road Elementary School’s C.P. Swagger Shipyard is the second entry on the list and it is the only one located in Michigan.
“The opportunity to be able to offer an inclusive educational environment both in and outside of the classroom is extremely important for our students,” said Bedford Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Carl Shultz. “The Douglas Road Elementary community came together to purchase and install an amazing play structure that would benefit all students equally. This is another amazing example of what can happen when caring people come together for the benefit of all.”
See 13abc’s related story: “Lambertville playground highlighted for inclusive playground design“