We have a great community of Denver parents, of special needs kids. We reached out to our community and we you know sort of asked questions and said, what are the things that you love about parks that you've been to in
Colorado or outside Colorado or things that you hate that just don't work you know the equipment that just has good intentions but it doesn't you know in person actually evolve to that. The theme of the park is just music because of the amphitheater and obviously the centerpiece is the trombone. And we were here for the opening, two weeks ago and my son usually when we go to parks and that's the whole
reason why this was part of the project is I wanted a park that he could play at. You know like literally I could let him go and play.
You know the play structures are very
suited to not only him but just everyone. For me to be able to just let her interact with the equipment, the sensory stuff. For her
she loves a thrill like she's a thrill seeker, so you know for her to have a swing that we can both swing at together
she loves that We-Go-Round. I mean that thing goes really fast
which is so cool. You know there's just like the music and just being able to go on the different levels of the equipment.
Those are little things that make such a big difference. This playground is a huge success. I think the coolest part of inclusive play is if we do our jobs right, inclusion is going to be such an afterthought. We're just going to see it it's such a
cool place to be for everybody and I think that's what
this playground is all about that it doesn't scream this is for our special needs here and our normal here, this is just a
really cool place to be.
So this playground has been really great
um, Annabelle last year had a really hard
time at school because she didn't have a handicap accessible playground.
And she came home for about two weeks in a row crying every day because she
didn't have anyone to play with her at the playground. So, we went and watched her at school and we had a conversation with her that
there was a difference between kids not wanting to play with her
and her not being able to play and so now shes got a place where she can go and play with everyone else and she doesn't have to worry about steps, and she can be on the equipment and she can just be like every other kid. Which is exactly what she wants, is to play with other kids. Um I like how people with disabilities can go and get around. When I was little things like this
didn't exist. It's really nice now that she can actually play with me
and I don't have to be like, oh can you try to do this now or like can you try to do this? So now I can actually do stuff she can do.