Inclusive Play: New Playgrounds Will Enhance Play for Everyone
As a self-proclaimed park scout, who takes my kids to local parks regularly, I thought I had seen many “inclusive” playgrounds around the Vancouver area—parks with paved walking paths, adaptable swings and a wide variety of activities to choose from. However, these parks that I thought would be considered inclusive, in reality are merely accessible. “Access is just one part of [being] inclusive. It’s the most important, but nothing all by itself,” said Cody Goldberg, founder of Harper’s Playground. Harper’s Playground is a nonprofit based in Portland with a mission to “inspire vital communities by creating inviting playgrounds for people of all abilities.” They have designed many natural and “radically” inclusive playgrounds both in and out of the United States.
Access and Inclusion
The vital distinction between accessibility (the ability to reach a playground via boardwalks) and inclusivity (being able to access and interact with every aspect of a playground) is what prompted Goldberg and his wife to found Harper’s Playground. Inspired by their daughter, Harper, who uses a walker, the Goldbergs are determined to spread their ideas across the globe. They’ll know their mission is complete, “when we get a memo from every single parks department across the entire planet that states they are now making all future playgrounds to be radically inclusive. It’s going to be a very cool day!”
Vancouver is next on their list of communities in need of updated playgrounds.
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