A Playground for All at McKee Farms Park
The Fitchburg Optimists Club helps ensure no one is left out of the fun
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| An example of an inclusive playground design, incorporating elements that all children of all abilities, and their parents, to enjoy themselves. |
No one deserves to be left out. With the new Playground for All under construction at McKee Farms Park in Fitchburg, no one will miss out on playground fun. People of all ages and abilities can enjoy this inclusive playground. The project is being spearheaded by the Fitchburg Optimists Club, and is an example of the club’s mission to “Bring out the best in kids and community.”
What’s Different About a “Playground for All”?
To create an inclusive playground, designers consider the needs of children and adults with a vast range of abilities. The new playground being built for Fitchburg’s McKee Park makes use of leading-edge design and materials to provide universal access to a sensory-rich environment.
In a traditional playground, those who use wheelchairs or other mobility aids can find paths too narrow or surfaces too soft to accommodate their devices. Someone with low vision can find it hard to see and use playground equipment. Even a child with no physical difficulty accessing play structures may struggle with overstimulating environments.
Examples of inclusive design include:
- Wide paths and solid surfaces that make equipment accessible for all.
- Steps and risers that use alternating colors for better visibility.
- Quiet areas providing space for social interaction where those with sensory processing disorders feel comfortable.
True accessibility means parents with disabilities themselves are able to use the playground as well, to assist their children. An inclusive playground truly works for all.
Fitchburg’s Playground for All will include swings and teeter-totters that accommodate wheelchairs. Bathrooms, picnic tables, ramps and paths have been designed for accessibility. Even the ground surface plays into the inclusivity.
Fitchburg Optimist Club: Bringing Out the Best
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Like many service clubs, The Fitchburg Optimist Club finds people often don't understanding its mission. The Optimist movement began in the early 20th century to address societal problems, choosing their name to reflect their positive outlook. Today, Optimist International is a worldwide volunteer organization dedicated to helping children develop to their full potential. The Fitchburg Optimist Club focuses on building and supporting amenities for kids in local parks and schools, sponsoring events and scholarships, and creating opportunities for kids while building relationships within the community.
While construction continues, the Fitchburg Optimist Club’s GoFundMe campaign remains active.
Donations can also be made to provide ongoing support to the playground through the endowment fund.
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“The poured-in-place surface is a really cool feature,” enthused Jake Johnson, Optimist in charge of fundraising for the project. “The squishy rubber surface is injury-preventing, but it also uses color to visually signal zones around each play structure. A kid running will see that and know to pay attention.” A sensory-friendly neutral color scheme with bright accents has been chosen instead of the bright colors so often used to appeal to children.
Partner Groups Provided Valuable Expertise
“The playground has been what I call a magnet project,” said Johnson. “When you have a good project, a dream team forms around it.”
The Optimists benefitted from the expertise of several partners – their dream team – on this project. Input from UW Health’s Safe Kids program was instrumental in making sure that the playground design incorporated features that would keep children safe while playing. CI Therapies – a pediatric therapy center in Fitchburg – helped spearhead the effort to bring the playground to McKee Park and lent their expertise that comes from providing therapy to kids with a range of abilities, helping select the playground equipment and design that would provide benefits. CI Therapies also was a significant fundraising partner for the project, which also will provide them with an outdoor location for therapy sessions when the weather is nice.
When it came time to raise money for the new project, he turned to Madison Community Foundation (MCF). “It seems so obvious to partner with experts who are used to working with organizations like ours to raise money and do good in our community,” Johnson said. To help ensure the playground remains well-maintained and accessible for all in perpetuity, the Fitchburg Optimist Club has established an endowment fund with the Madison Community Foundation.
MCF’s expertise helped in other ways too. Tom Linfield, Vice President of Community Impact, directed the Fitchburg Optimist Club toward grants available from other funders whose grantmaking focus was appropriate for the project. “And we got those grants,” Johnson said.
Expecting a Grand Opening – and Lots of Use
The Playground for All will be located next to the McKee Park Splash Pad. Although the project has been affected by the supply chain issues brought about by the pandemic, ground has broken on the project, and when the new inclusive playground opens, Johnson predicts it will see lots of use.
“There are people with disabilities who have never played on a playground in their life. It took a long time for the world to get to this point,” Johnson said. “Parks help families and communities connect. Let’s build a playground where we have something for everyone.”