Asheville Takes Playground Accessibility to New Heights
In the beautiful city of Asheville, there’s a palpable excitement buzzing in the air, especially when it comes to the local playgrounds. Thanks to a significant boost in funding from a 2016 general obligation bond, the city has shifted gears and gotten serious about enriching the play experiences for its youth. Since 2019, Asheville has successfully completed major renovations on nine public playgrounds, with two more set for overhaul in 2025. This isn’t just about shiny new equipment; it’s about fostering a space where every child, regardless of their ability, can run, jump, and play freely.
Welcome to Asheville’s First All-Abilities Playground
One of the crowning achievements in this endeavor unveiled this summer is the revamped Murphy-Oakley Park. Relaunched in late June, this park is making waves across the community as Asheville’s very first all-abilities playground. Designed with an adaptive approach, the play area is a welcoming space that shines a spotlight on inclusion. D. Tyrell McGirt, Asheville’s parks and recreation director, emphasizes the city’s mission: “The trend in parks and rec now is to make sure playground structures are built so that, regardless of what your skill set or ability is, any young person that’s utilizing the facility has free roam of it with no boundaries or hindrance.”
Exploring the New Features
On a delightful sunny day not long before school started, McGirt strolled across the newly installed rubberized green deck of the Murphy-Oakley playground, pointing out various features designed for inclusivity. Packs of children laughed and played on the colorful structures, all under the protective shade of blue umbrellas. Notably, the new design includes a special rubber surface that reduces impact during falls and is easily navigable for those in wheelchairs.
“And there’s a gradual incline, so regardless of your ability, you can easily get up on the platformed area of the play structure and climbing features,” McGirt explained.
The playground, devised by Rebecca Cipriano, features an array of slides, monkey bars, bridges, and climbing structures seamlessly integrated into its primary play unit. One of the standout attractions is an innovative device called the Global Motion. It’s a fun yet safe blend of a merry-go-round and climbing apparatus, designed to accommodate multiple friends at once.
Musical Elements and Calm Spaces
Kids can also engage with towering metallic flowers that double as percussion instruments, while a vibrant xylophone creates a lively, musical environment. A unique touch to the playground is the incorporation of large signs with graphics to help children understand emotions and anti-anxiety techniques, making the space more attuned to the needs of neurodivergent visitors.
In a more tranquil setting, the “serenity spot” offers a bench neatly tucked behind a perforated wall—an ideal area for parents and caregivers to take a breather while still keeping an eye on the playful antics in the distance. “It’s a space where they can block out all the noise, all the sensory overload,” McGirt noted.
The Journey to an Inclusive Playground
This remarkable transformation of Murphy-Oakley Park had been a long time coming. Originally installed in the 1970s, the playground was overdue for a facelift. The choice of Murphy-Oakley as a focus for this all-abilities makeover stemmed from its integral role in the city’s Therapeutic Recreation (TR) program, hosted at the adjacent community center.
For City of Asheville TR manager Lori Long, this project has personal significance. The previous playground’s mulch surface made it nearly impossible for kids using wheelchairs or walkers to participate. The new design significantly broadens play options and introduces necessary safety features, including a new accessible pathway connecting the recreation center to the playground.
Community Sentiment and Future Plans
Feedback from TR participants and the broader Asheville community has been overwhelmingly positive. Long emphasizes the importance of creating a safe, fun, and diverse environment where the all-abilities playground can cater to different needs, allowing children to discover and play in varied ways.
Asheville isn’t stopping here. The city has already earmarked funds from the 2016 bond for further upgrades to various playgrounds, including two more slated for 2025. The city’s parks and recreation and capital management teams are continuously gathering community input to prioritize which parks will see enhancements next.
Coming Together for the Community
In alignment with its vision for the future, Asheville City Council recently approved the Recreate Asheville: Shaping Our City’s Parks 10-year vision plan. This plan aims to identify parks that need the most attention and lays out strategies for future project implementations. Residents will also get a chance to vote on a new $20 million bond referendum, which mirrors the success of past funding initiatives.
With park bench chats scheduled to allow community voices to be heard, Asheville is setting a shining example of how a community-centric approach can lead to more inclusive, engaging, and joyful spaces for everyone. The excitement is palpable as families anticipate the continued evolution of playgrounds that not only inspire play but also embody the spirit of accessibility.
