Fruit Valley Park Vancouver, Washington
Featuring a fully inclusive playground, plans for Fruit Valley Park incorporated extensive community input to establish final design features and playground equipment. The Otak team (in partnership with Learning Landscapes) led public outreach along with master planning, construction documents, and permitting services to develop this public space designed to celebrate the natural beauty and habitat found in the Vancouver lowlands.
Planning an Accessibility-Focused Public Asset, Based on Extensive Community Input
Made possible by $1 million donation by the Kuni Foundation, plans for Fruit Valley Park include a playground named after Elizabeth Austin to honor her legacy as a leader – and mother – in the community. With features based on community input, the playground embodies a design theme of “Play Like a Bird.” While most playgrounds incorporate basic ramps and a few wheelchair-accessible play options, those accommodations only address some mobility disabilities making inclusive play spaces a priority for Vancouver Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services. An emphasis on inclusive play equipment, from ADA-approved poured in place rubber surfacing to fencing that supports the safety of children with specific developmental and neurodiverse needs, as well as bird sculptures and houses, altogether highlight the design theme. A rope climber, we-go-round spinner, zipline, water play area, play mounds, slide, and bell and drum musical instruments are among the specially-designed inclusive equipment. New bike racks, benches and picnic tables also improve the park’s utility while a planting area enhances its natural setting. In addition to making the park more inviting for people with disabilities, inclusive play environments also encourage strong physical, mental and social development in children who do not experience disability.
