For many children, some of the most special memories are made on playgrounds. Stepping out for recess or an afternoon at the park opens the door to imagination, friendship, and just being more active. Unfortunately, not all playgrounds are built to be more accessible.
This gap was apparent to Stephen and Larene Clark each time they took their 6-year-old granddaughter, Scarlet, to parks in neighboring communities.
Diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) at eight months old, Scarlet was limited to the separate, small areas of playgrounds accessible by wheelchair. After seeing this pattern in design time and time again, her grandparents set out to build a play space for children of all abilities to enjoy together. Scarlet’s Smile, a 501(c)3 organization, was founded with the mission of building this barrier-free, all-inclusive playground at Dodge Park in Commerce Charter Township Michigan.
Giffels Webster was tasked with coordinating and developing inclusive foundational functionalities for the park, including parking, restrooms, and sidewalk areas surrounding the playground. Following submission of the initial site plan, the project took off with the help of many community partners.
“When Scarlet’s Playground was introduced to our team, we knew this project was a major step for not only the community, but for inclusive design everywhere,” said Jason Mayer, partner at Giffels Webster. “Our team of volunteers were all hands on deck to assist in making this vision a reality. Contributing to the moments these children will remember forever is priceless.”
The Giffels Webster team began coordinating grading and staking of the site and determining location for equipment throughout the 18,000 square-foot-playground. According to Scarlet’s Smile, the playground will be equipped with:
- Specialized rubber surfaces to accommodate wheelchairs
- Double-wide ramps for easy wheelchair passage
- Shaded play decks and tunnels
- Sensory play equipment
- Special slides free of static electricity
- Learning walls with braille letters
- A rocket ship (per Scarlet’s request!)
- Zip lines, swings, climbing structures, and more
Scarlet’s Playground will be the largest barrier-free playground in the Midwest. To accommodate families traveling from near and far, Giffels Webster converted the entire front row of parking spots into ADA-compliant spaces and developed seven new spaces all accessible by van.
Keith Rikli, senior technician at Giffels Webster, visited the site in August to capture progress shots of the playground.
Scarlet’s Playground will be open soon to the public. Final steps before opening day include installing the playground’s rubber surface, but Scarlet’s family prides itself on continuously improving this site for years to come. To learn more about Scarlet’s Smile and to donate to this special project, click here.