Kauaʻi is building a playground near Wailua that will be fully accessible for users of all ages and abilities.
The Kamalani Inclusive Playground is being built at Lydgate Park, adjacent to the current large wooden play structure.
The playground’s designers accounted for children with not only physical but cognitive disabilities as well.
According to Danielle Sagum from Inspired Play, a local playground business, traditional playground designs require a minimum number of ground-level activities for users with physical disabilities.
"This is flawed, as it only accommodates those with physical disabilities, which only accounts for 8.5% of children with diagnosed disabilities," Sagum said.
"The other 91.5% of disabilities are cognitive, sensory, or social-emotional, and there are no building codes or ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) requirements that address inclusion and equitable use of this diverse community of people. An inclusive playground thinks beyond 'access' and considers usability for all," Sagum told Hawaiʻi Public Radio.
The Kamalani Inclusive Playground will feature spaces for sensory relief, ramps for wheelchair access to play structures, swings with adaptive seats, and more.
Construction began earlier this week.
Kamalani Inclusive Playground is scheduled to open in spring 2022 with an estimated 7,500 square feet of play structures arranged for equitable play.
