Chapel Hill Reveals Inclusive Playground Design and New Town Playground Features

The Town of Chapel Hill is set to install new playground features at nearly all its parks this month in an effort to make them more inclusive.

The colorful Burke amenities will be installed at eight town playgrounds to improve accessibility for all children. The parks will remain open during the installations, which began this week. 

“It is exciting stuff,” said Chapel Hill Mayor Jess Anderson in an interview with 97.9 The Hill. “The inclusive features of playgrounds in general are going to be playground equipment that’s accessible to children with a variety of abilities.”

The project is funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), and the town gathered community input on the designs earlier this year. Some of the new features include a Serenity Spot, Freedom Swing Set, and an Inclusive Orbit, which strive to bring playground fun to all children, while also improving balance, coordination, and teamwork. 

In an October 3 release, Chair of the Town’s Parks, Greenways, and Recreation Commission Marcella Twamley said typical playgrounds have many barriers to play for disabled children. She said inclusive spaces are important for the health and wellness of disabled community members. 

“I am so thrilled that families like mine will have a place to play without having to drive to other communities,” said Twamley. “It is my hope that this playground is a fun and welcoming place for all children and families.” 

In the release, Parks and Recreation revealed the design for the inclusive playground at Community Center Park, developed by Barrs Recreation. That construction is set to begin in January, and the park will close for renovation. 

Design rendering for Community Center Park’s inclusive playground. (Photo via Barrs Recreation Playground Equipment.)

Senior Manager of Planning and Park Operations Kevin Robinson applauded community members like Twamley for being champions of “innovative and inclusive spaces.”

“Whether it’s here at the Community Center, or one of our other playgrounds, we can’t wait to hear the laughs and see the big smiles,” he said. 

To sign up for updates on the installations, click here.

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