Playgrounds are for everyone right? The answer is yes and no. Traditional playgrounds are created for kids with no known disabilities. Since 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has required public spaces to be accessible to people with social needs and disabilities. This includes playgrounds. The creation of accessible playgrounds has been prioritized since. Accessible playgrounds are designed for kids with known disabilities. For example, children in wheelchairs could access some of the equipment or all equipment of accessible playgrounds. However, this is still limiting because kids cannot truly fully immerse in the playground experience. Inclusive playgrounds have emerged as the segway between the two playgrounds.
Inclusive playgrounds are more fun.
They are more creative than the basic swing, slide, and jungle gym, which in itself is not suited for all ages. They allow children to enjoy all the equipment in different ways and allow kids of all abilities to play together. These playgrounds have more unique and interesting equipment for kids to explore, thus making them more enjoyable for kids to play on. They create more tightly-knit communities because they break down barriers that would have previously excluded kids with special needs preventing them from integrating with their peers. Inclusive playgrounds have equipment that engages all the senses giving kids a more creative play space.
Over the summer, the Oak Ridge’s Highland View Park Playground was converted into an all inclusive playground.
The project was funded by the Community Development Block Grant funds, a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development program that focuses on serving low- to moderate-income people. It is one of the first in the state of Tennessee to feature a Wee-Go-Swing. It is created for children in wheelchairs to not have to be moved from their wheelchair to a swing. Parents and other capable friends can wheel the child onto the swing. The swing allows kids of all abilities to experience swinging and swinging together. There are two seats on either end of the swing, so kids of all abilities can play on it together. It is one of the first installed in a public playground in Tennessee. The only other one in the state is located at St. Jude’s hospital in Memphis.
Below is a list of Knoxville and surrounding counties inclusive playgrounds in our area:
- Highland View Park Playground: 451 West Outer Drive, Oak Ridge, TN 37830
- Karns Lion All Inclusive Playground: 6618 Beaver Ridge Rd, Knoxville, TN 37931
- South Clinton Inclusive Playground: 232 Highway Dr, Clinton, TN 37716
- Blount Inclusive Playground: 1988 Sequoyah, Maryville, TN 37804
- Ashley Nicole Dream Playground: 620 Winona Street, Knoxville, TN 37917
- Lakeshore Park: 6410 S Northshore Dr, Knoxville TN 37919
- Pigeon Forge Rotary All-Inclusive Community Playground: 63 Wears Valley Rd, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
- Blue Cross Healthy Place at Town Hall Park: 11408 Municipal Center Dr, Farragut Tennessee, 37934
- Ingleside Elementary: 200 Guille St, Athens, TN 37303
