The long-awaited, much anticipated opening of the Holding Park Inclusive Playground, 133 W. Owen Ave., will occur Saturday, March 2, at 7 a.m. The playground will be open daily from dawn to dusk.
Due to the high volume of attendees expected throughout the opening weekend, free parking will be available in several lots on the campus of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS) and along several side streets in the vicinity of Holding Park. Visitors are encouraged to make plans with family members and friends to carpool, use rideshare services, or take advantage of the free Wake Forest Loop (Saturday only) which offers stops less than a block away from the park.
Designed to provide children of all abilities with a safe and fun place to play, inclusive playgrounds offer a sensory-rich play experience for every cognitive level and developmental stage.
The Holding Park Inclusive Playground’s thoughtful design includes accommodations for wheelchair users’ to entrances and benches, accessibility enhancements to walkways, and a perimeter fence for added safety.
The playground also boasts a rubber surface that provides a smooth, wheelchair-friendly terrain allowing easy navigation for individuals with assistive devices. With ramps seamlessly integrated into slides and other elements, children of all abilities can experience the joy of sliding down and participating in various activities.
The playground equipment was carefully chosen and adapted to cater to those with sensory issues, ensuring a safe and enjoyable environment for everyone.
Among its many features, the new playground offers:
- Fully ramped playground structures that offer ease of access for people of all mobility ranges.
- Multiple sensory experiences, including tactile, visual, auditory, spatial & vestibular – these items include play panels, rockers, swings, spinners, slides, and balance challenges.
- Seating and shade for parent relaxation.
- Play Ensemble Outdoor musical equipment.
- MOVMNT – accessible interactive game piece.
- Serenity Spot – a fort-like environment with a variety of activities that can be calming and allow the expression of stimming behaviors.
- Brava Universal Swing – a unique way to experience swinging and rocking movements.
- Volito Swing – disc seat that allows the whole group to swing together.
- AirVenture Glider – a stand up swing that thrills all ages.
- Inclusive Orbit Spinner – a multi-user, zero entry merry-go round.
This project is supported by a grant from US Treasury as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds award totaling $14.5 million. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/TOWF_ARPA.
For more information about the Holding Park Inclusive Playground, visit https://bit.ly/WFHoldingPark or email PRCR Director Ruben Wall at rwall@wakeforestnc.gov.
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