Park planning session promising

Supporters of Okotoks’ first inclusive playground were impressed by a collaborative planning event that allowed them to have a say in creating a plan for it.

Currently there is $250,000 earmarked in the Town’s budget for an inclusive playground, and a grant for $30,000 has been received, specifically to go toward the poured rubber surfacing.

Jodi Halpin, who started the ball rolling on an inclusive playground two years ago with a letter to Mayor Bill Robertson, said a planning and information session on March 22 was everything she’d hoped for.

“It was really positive and people were engaged and wanting to participate in it as well,” said Halpin. “I thought it went really well, and everybody had really good input and feedback. I love that everyone seemed really excited about it.”

Since the session, which saw about 25 people collaborate to help determine the location and amenities of the inclusive playground, she said people have approached her to offer services and connections that may help raise more funds or stretch budget dollars.

One such group was the Okotoks Rotary Club, which was won over by a presentation given to their club by Halpin and friend Tami Alger, who both have children with special needs.

“Rotary’s motto is service, and we just felt this was a wonderful project for Okotoks to get behind and as a Rotary Club we decided to get behind it,” said Rotarian Sandi Kennedy.

Details of the Rotary Club’s involvement have not been released at this time.

The Town is also continuing to apply for more grants to increase the scope of the project.

Halpin said it would be great to have more money to work with, but even having an inclusive playground built in phases would be beneficial.

She and about 90 per cent of attendees at the planning session voted to have the playground built at Riverside Park, across the street from Seaman Stadium on 32 Street.

“I like that there is the space there to expand and grow, especially if we get some more grant money or are able to raise some more money, there’s space there where we can continue to grow and add on to the park as the funds become available,” said Halpin.

The other option for the playground was in Cimarron Park, on Cimarron Drive, which already has a playground with rubber surfacing. The project there would have seen the current playground footprint expanded.

Though building at Riverside Park requires extra funds to remove the current play structure and bring infill to raise it about the flood plain, Halpin said it’s still the better choice in her mind.

In fact, it was the location she had in mind when she penned her letter to the mayor in 2016.

“I used to take my oldest daughter there (who is not disabled) and there wasn’t a whole lot of stuff for her to do there,” said Halpin. “So, I thought, there’s a lot of space here, and the equipment there is kind of old anyway, so it seems like the ideal spot and park to renovate and put in this new playground.”

She said she’s looking forward to the next part of the project, when the real planning begins. It’s more than she’d ever hoped for, she said.

“When I wrote the letter, I didn’t expect this to come to fruition,” said Halpin. “I didn’t expect it to come even this far. It’s just really cool.”

An inclusive playground will not be designed for only children with disabilities. The intent is to create a space that is accessible for everyone, where typical and atypical children can play together.

Orvella Small, executive director of Foothills Special Needs Association for Parents and Siblings (SNAPS), said inclusive playgrounds are important for everybody in the community.

“Our families are going to make use of it for sure, but so are the grandma and grandpa and the mom and parents who might have some mobility issues as well, so it’s important for everybody,” said Small. “That’s how we see it.”

She said she liked what she saw. From the poured rubber surface and wider ramps, which will make the play structure accessible for anyone, to the security fencing and shading options and special equipment, Small said they seem to be thinking of everyone.

Saucer swings that allow parents to ride with their children can also be used by friends playing together or by children alone, she said. It promotes a range of play and social options, she said.

Inclusive playgrounds aren’t something that have been widely considered in the past, she said.

“I would say they’ve only just started to become more aware they need to be more inclusive,” said Small. “I think it’s just awareness that’s finally come to light that it’s important and something that needs to happen.”

Recently, Dr. Morris Gibson School raised funds to build a new inclusive playground, and the Westmount School playground is largely accessible, she said. In addition, the Town has suggested it may look at putting more inclusive playgrounds in future developments, something Small said is encouraging.

“Our communities need to be inclusive communities overall – employment, education and all those things,” she said. “The community where you live needs to be accessible.”

For more information visit www.okotoks.ca/inclusiveplayground.