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City Of Clinton Completes All Inclusive Playground
by Wendee Seaton
As the mother of a young child, I spend a lot of time at playgrounds, I would see some caregivers struggle. I realized we needed a more accessible playground here in Clinton. We sent a survey out to the community and accessibility was listed as a challenge in our City. I began researching ADA playgrounds in 2016.
While researching, I discovered inclusive playgrounds that provide a place where children with physical, social-emotional, sensory, cognitive and communicative disabilities can play along-side able-bodied children, with all benefiting from the health and socialization aspects of a playground. I knew a parent of a child with autism and discovered they could not take their child to the playgrounds because they were not fenced and did not have a “quiet space”’ for them to desensitize when they became overwhelmed.
During my research, I discovered the growing number of grandparents who were raising their grandchildren. Accessibility kept many from visiting playgrounds with their grandchildren and promoted obesity among those who were not active.
Children with disabilities are also at higher risk of social isolation. Studies have found that children with disabilities are excluded from play significantly more often than their peers without disabilities. These children experience less diversity of activities and less social engagements than their peers without disabilities, spending more time in isolated activities such as watching television and using the computer. Typically, children with disabilities carry out leisure activities on their own or with parents rather than with friends. When play with peers is limited, the ability to learn and develop the skills and attitudes of accomplishment associated with play are also restricted.
The City formed an Inclusive Playground Committee and we toured playgrounds around the Kansas City area. I also toured inclusive playgrounds around Columbia and St. Louis. The City applied for a Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant from Missouri State Parks and I began contacting playground manufacturers and researching inclusive playground equipment. I spoke with many other
cities who had already built one of these playgrounds and learned of the incredible benefit it had provided their communities. Many parents of children with disabilities and therapy groups traveled great distances to visit these playgrounds.
During this process, I applied for more than 75 grants. Some grants were denied the first time but we were successful on the second attempt. Persistence pays off! Fundraising was started, and then the COVID-19 pandemic hit. The project came to a halt for almost a year and many were ready to just let it go. I was not. I kept applying for grant extensions and pushing this project through.
In August of 2021, the playground was opened to the public … five years after beginning the process! Seeing children with disabilities using this playground and playing alongside other children is a dream come true. The sound of children’s laughter is a beautiful thing. This playground is always full of families even during the winter months.
The project budget was $600,000 and was paid for 100% from grants and donations. No City tax dollars were used.
Wendee Seaton is the city clerk/finance officer for the city of Clinton. Learn more at https://clintonmo.com.
Future Plans:
• The City is currently taking bids to put a shelter house at the playground. The Rotary Club has donated two picnic tables and we plan to obtain two more. We hope to obtain more shelter houses on the north side of the playground as well. • As the next step in becoming more accessible, the City has applied for a Recreational Trails Grant to pave the 1-mile
Artesian Park Walking Trail, with fitness stations along the trail and an inner ADA loop with improved parking.
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