SRP Parks and Recreation Guide

CASE STUDY

SEE SENSES PARK IN ACTION

FACT: By adding a much-needed inclusive play environment , SENSES Park was thoughtfully designed for children with autism .

In an effort to fulfill a great need within the community, Osceola County created SENSES Park in Kissimmee, Fla. Unlike most playgrounds, this park was designed to be a truly inclusive play space catered to children with autism just like Danny Roger’s 3.5-year-old grandson. “My grandson thoroughly enjoyed the experience and did not want to leave,” Rogers said. “It was good for him in that if he got uncomfortable, he could go to another part of the play area, where most inclusive playgrounds tend to confine children to a limited space.”

accessible merry-go-round, musical play instruments, sand box, and site furnishings.

The musical play area is a key focal point of the park. Each instrument is designed to be harmonious, so they can be played individually or together as a small orchestra.

In addition to the play equipment, one very important part of SENSES Park is the poured in place rubber surfacing. Not only is it great for accessibility, it is also designed with different colors to designate different areas of the playground. It also has a unique texture, which adds to the sensory play experience. “Every component in the playground is meant to elicit an intentional and unique play experience either individually, with the child’s caregiver, or in a social or cooperative setting,” Verdone said. Mindick said the most important feature was creating spaces with limited social experience. This was done by providing separation between play items to allow room for self-exploration and to limit outside stresses. What’s more, SENSES Park creates a nice balance of design, spacing, play equipment, landscaping, and sound to best cater to an inclusive environment. “The community immediately embraced the park, complimenting us for taking the time to understand the various and broad issues related to autism and putting that knowledge into our design of the park,” Mindick said.

Our SRP Certified Partner KorKat designed and installed a multi-sensory play environment that promoted differences and similarities in children’s play abilities.

In creating this design, KorKat Design Consultant Josh Verdone made multisensory play a top priority by incorporating components and different play quadrants that were unique to children of varying abilities and sensory needs. “From the very beginning we believed quite strongly that every child should have the opportunity to play outdoors. We realized our current playground inventory was incomplete,” Director of Parks and Public Lands Robert Mindick said.

This inclusive playground consists of a variety of play equipment including a compact structure with safe challenges, freestanding climbers, swing, wheelchair

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