When Robison Elementary School unveiled its new playground in April, a whole new world of activity opened up for Anthony Planck, a student.
"He thinks they built it for him," his mother, Jamie Planck, said in a telephone interview, "so he can play with the other kids."
That was the goal of the Tucson Orthopaedic Institute and some 40 businesses and organizations that helped in the project: provide a playground that able-bodied and handicapped kids can share.
Before, 10-year-old Anthony, who has muscular dystrophy, and other handicapped kids couldn't join their playmates on the school's original playground, which still exists.
Now he can navigate his wheelchair onto the spongy surface and right up to the play apparatus.
While he doesn't have the mobility to climb the new structure, Anthony can play with gadgets installed at a seated level. He also can frolic with the other kids under and around the structure.
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The new equipment lets him "feel like he fits in," said Jamie Planck.
While exercise is important for children with disabilities, accessible playgrounds primarily meet their social needs, said Beth Lucas, the city of Tucson's therapeutic recreation supervisor.
Such play equipment "increases social opportunities for children with disabilities," Lucas said. "It helps them with friendship development."
Robison's $90,000 playground is the fourth one that the Tucson Orthopaedic Institute has built for the Tucson Unified School District. The others are at Van Buskirk, Reynolds and Rose elementary schools.
Accessibility defined
The Americans with Disabilities Act does not define playground accessibility, according to Assistive Technology Partners at the University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center.
However, design guidelines adopted as part of the act aim to provide access both to play equipment and onto portions of it. Designers achieve access to equipment by using engineered wood fiber or rubber turf on at least a portion of the surface on which the equipment sits.
Apparatus with ground-level activities, low platforms, grab bars and wheelchair ramps count as access to play equipment, as do car-seatlike swings, basketball hoops of varying heights and activity tables at wheelchair heights.
In a universal playground, at least 70 percent of the equipment is usable by disabled children.
Accessible playgrounds
Playgrounds vary widely on their accessibility. Here are three that local experts said provide some of the best experiences:
● Milagro Playground at Jacobs Park, 3300 N. Fairview Ave. The Catalina Rotary Club spearheaded the project to build a $750,000 universal playground. Completed in 2005, it includes basketball hoops, sand and water tables, gadget and music panels and swings. Ramps lead to a bridge, slides and a rocking platform.
● Jefferson Park Elementary School, 1701 E. Seneca St. Built with bond and other funds, the school playground has ramps so that wheelchairs can climb to two heights. It also has sensory panels.
● Rillito Center, 266 E. Pastime Road. Amphitheater Public Schools' school for students with profound disabilities has a sensory wall, sand and water tables, basketball hoops and a hill with a bridge to go on and under. However, the play apparatus is surrounded by sand.
accessible playgrounds
Names of playgrounds considered accessible to children with disabilities were provided by their respective jurisdictions. All of the playgrounds have access to equipment. They vary as to the number of features that are accessible.
The list includes only schools open to the public when school is not in session.
Amphitheater Public Schools
• Painted Sky Elementary School, 12620 N. Woodburne Ave.
• Rillito Center, 266 E. Pastime Road.
Catalina Foothills School District
• Canyon View Elementary School, 5725 N. Sabino Canyon Road.
• Manzanita Elementary School, 3000 E. Manzanita Ave.
• Sunrise Drive Elementary School, 5301 E. Sunrise Drive.
• Ventana Vista Elementary School, 6085 N. Kolb Road.
Marana
• Continental Ranch Community Park, 8900 N. Coachline Blvd.
• Continental Reserve Neighborhood Park, 8568 N. Continental Reserve Loop.
• El Rio Neighborhood Park, 10160 N. Blue Crossing Way.
• Gladden Farms Community Park, 12205 N. Tangerine Farms Road.
• Ora Mae Harn Park, 13250 N. Lon Adams Road.
Oro Valley
• Cañada del Oro Riverfront Park, 551 W. Lambert Lane.
• James D. Kriegh Park, 23 W. Calle Concordia.
Pima County
(This partial list reflects recently built or well-maintained accessible parks.)
• Brandi Fenton Memorial Park, 3482 E. River Road.
• Children's Memorial Park, 4851 N. 15th Place.
• Curtis District Park, 2110 W. Curtis Road.
• Ellie Towne Community Center, 1660 W. Ruthrauff Road (open during center hours; check at front desk).
• Flowing Wells District Park, 5510 N. Shannon Road.
Sahuarita
• Anamax Park, 17501 S. Camino de las Quintas.
• Parque Los Arroyos, 775 W. Calle de Marzo.
Sahuarita Unified School District
• Anza Trail K-8 School, 15490 Rancho Sahuarita Blvd.
• Sahuarita Intermediate School, 350 W. Sahuarita Road.
• Sahuarita Primary School, 350 W. Sahuarita Road.
• Sopori Elementary School, 5000 W. Arivaca Road.
South Tucson
• Alfonsa McKenna-Luis Redondo Park, 2020 S. Fifth Ave.
• Victor Soltero Park, 2400 S. Second Ave.
Sunnyside Unified School District
• Drexel Elementary School, 801 E. Drexel Road.
• Elvira Elementary School, 250 W. Elvira Road.
• Santa Clara Elementary School, 6910 S. Santa Clara Ave.
Tucson
(This is a partial list.)
• Alvernon Park, 3900 E. Third St.
• Amphi Neighborhood Park, 510 E. Navajo Road.
• Desert Aire Park, 600 S. Beverly Ave.
• Edith Ball Adaptive Recreation Center, 3455 E. Zoo Court.
• El Rio Neighborhood Center, 1390 W. Speedway.
• Himmel Park, 1000 N. Tucson Blvd.
• Hoffman Park, 4800 E. Cecilia St.
• Jacobs Park, 3300 N. Fairview Ave.
• Jesse Owens Park, 400 S. Sarnoff Drive.
• Joaquin Murrieta Park, 1400 N. Silverbell Road.
• Kennedy Park, 3700 S. Mission Road.
• Mesa Village Park, 5700 E. 18th St.
• Mitchell Park, 1100 E. Mitchell St.
• Ochoa Park, West 24th Street and South Ninth Avenue.
• Palo Verde Park, 425 S. Mann Ave.
• Purple Heart Park, 10050 E. Rita Road.
• Quincie Douglas Center, 1575 E. 36th St.
• Reid Park, East 22nd Street and South Country Club Road.
• Riverview Park, 1600 N. Yavapai St.
• Santa Cruz River Park, 756 N. Riverside Drive.
• Santa Rita Park, 401 E. 22nd St.
• Toumey Park, 4500 E. Eastland St.
Tucson Unified School District
(Sixty-six schools have accessible playgrounds. While most schools are informally open to the public, the list below shows only schools that have formal agreements to provide public access. Those with an asterisk have a tentative agreement with Tucson.)
• Blenman Elementary School, 1695 N. Country Club Road.
• Bloom Elementary School, 8310 E. Pima St. *
• Cavett Elementary School, 2120 E. Naco Vista Drive.
• Drachman Montessori Magnet School, 1085 S. 10th Ave.
• Dunham Elementary School, 9850 E. 29th St. *
• Hudlow Elementary School, 502 N. Caribe Ave.
• Jefferson Park Elementary School, 1701 E. Seneca St.
• Lyons Elementary School, 7555 E. Dogwood St.
• Menlo Park Elementary School, 1100 W. Fresno St.
• Miles Exploratory Learning Center, 1400 E. Broadway.
• Miller Elementary School, 6951 S. Camino de la Tierra.
• Richey K-8 School, 2209 N. 15th Ave.
• Rose Elementary School, 710 E. Michigan Drive. *
• Tully Accelerated Elementary Magnet School, 1701 W. El Rio Drive.
• Wheeler Elementary School, 1818 S. Avenida del Sol. *
• Wright Elementary School, 4311 E. Linden St.
Vail School District
• Civano Elementary School, 10673 E. Mira Lane.
• Cottonwood Elementary School, 9950 Rees Loop.
• Desert Willow Elementary School, 9400 E. Esmond Loop.
• Mesquite Elementary School, 9455 E. Rita Ranch Road.
• Ocotillo Ridge Elementary School, 10170 S. White Lightning Lane.
• Sycamore Elementary School, 16701 S. Houghton Road.
