VIVO INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND - NOW OPEN
Through a partnership with The City of Calgary, the Parks Foundation, Creating Coventry, North Calgary Cultural Association (NCCA) and VIVO, a brand new, fully fenced Inclusive playground and accompanying gathering space is now open in the community of Country Hills Village.
PLAYGROUND LOCATION
The playground will be located in the community of Country Hills Village, next to the VIVO recreation center in the field between Country Village Rd NE and Country Village Way NE, Calgary AB T3K 6E3.
WHAT IS AN INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND?
An inclusive playground goes beyond minimum accessibility standards to provide an environment where children (and citizens) of all abilities and needs can interact. “Inclusive” spaces utilize a set of universal design principles that guide the placement and overall function of the play structures, pathways, seating, equipment and other amenities. An inclusive playground is designed for equitable participation that would support the needs of a person with mobility limitations but might also cater to the needs a child who is visually impaired or living with Autism. In an inclusive playground, children, families and caretakers can play together in the same space, regardless of ability, needs, age, gender, culture, or race.
PLAYGROUND BACKGROUND
In late 2020, the City of Calgary announced new infrastructure investments for 2020-21, to support a more competitive, accessible and resilient city during a year of unprecedented challenges. This resulted in Calgary Parks receiving $16M in funding towards Parks infrastructure projects, funded through the provincial Municipal Stimulus Fund (MSP). NCAA, VIVO and Creating Coventry partnered with the City of Calgary and Parks Foundation to utilize some of this funding to build an inclusive playground that will nurture social connection and well-being for individuals of a variety of ages, abilities, and sociocultural backgrounds. The playground will be located behind VIVO, a recreation facility that provides the advantage of existing parking and washroom facilities. As the first inclusively designed space in the area, this will be a free, public space for all ages, abilities, and backgrounds to enjoy and benefit from.
DESIGN CONCEPTS
Parks Foundation has awarded Canadian Recreation Solutions the contract to supply and install the playground and accompanying gathering space. They are a reputable playground supplier and installer with 20 years of experience. Key Elements of the design include:
- Designed to be inclusive and accessible for children of all abilities aged 2-12
- Includes playground equipment from Little Tikes Commercial, an industry leader who focuses on child development and inclusivity.
- Equipment highlights including Together Glider, Quiet Grove, ADA Ladybug, Gear Panel, Roller Slide, Surface Spinner and Inclusive Swing Seat.
- Coloured pathway in surfacing creating a visual safe zone and a fun track for children to play on
- A gathering space with accessible tables, benches, shelter and a BBQ
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why is there a fence?
A fence has been included to increase safety for children, especially children who may run towards the stormwater pond or the road. This is important for children with parents or caregivers who may have limited mobility for some reason.
Why are there no washrooms?
This site was chosen due to its proximity to Vivo. This gives access to washrooms within Vivo’s facility. Though Vivo is not open 24/7, its hours are quite extensive, especially when many individuals would be using this play and gathering space. Adding dedicated washrooms for this site would have substantially increased the budget and limited the amount of play and social equipment that could be provided.
Why is there no spray park?
Spray parks are very expensive to build and maintain. Volunteer run groups like Creating Coventry or a local community association do not have the financial capacity to take on a project like this.
For additional information, questions, or feedback, please reach out to info@parksfdn.com
