Thousands of children in the Houston area live every day with some sort of physical or sensory disability. Currently, play opportunities for these children can be limited due to playground accessibility factors.
The Playgrounds Without Limits campaign was created to provide funding to address this problem. Its goal is to provide funding for three playgrounds, which exceed ADA requirements, to be built in public parks. The playground locations are based on park facilities and their proximity to large concentrations of people with disabilities, based on figures provided by the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities. These playgrounds will allow all children the chance to play together on the same playground.
The fundraising campaign grew from a number of initiatives, including the Mayor’s recognition that there were limited play opportunities for children with disabilities in Houston, the first annual Townhall Meeting for People with Disabilities held in April of 2005, and the addition of an Adaptive Recreation Division to the Houston Parks and Recreation Department.
Carolyn Farb chairs the Playgrounds Without Limits campaign. Founding partners include the Houston Association of Realtors, the Houston Parks Board, Inc. (a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization), and the Houston Parks and Recreation Department.
The Vale-Asche Foundation Playground The Vale-Asche Foundation Playground at Memorial Park is the first playground completed. Dedicated on December 16, 2006, this playground gives children of all abilities a place where they can play together.
What makes the Vale-Asche Foundation Playground special is its design. Not only is it fully accessible for children with disabilities, it has been carefully planned to be inviting, exciting, and fun. Children with sight and hearing impairments will find that the play equipment offers fun, sensory-rich activities. Kids with mobility issues can join in the play through a series of ramps and transfer systems, which allow them access to 90% of the play structure. Kids who may have felt that the world was not open to them will know that this is a place for them, and for all children.
The Vale-Asche Foundation Playground is located on Memorial Loop Drive near Arnot Street, with convenient parking at the Mayor Jim McConn Memorial Ballfields. It is across from the golf course clubhouse.
More "Playgrounds Without Limits" to Come The Vale-Asche Foundation Playground at Memorial Park is just the beginning. Two new “Playgrounds Without Limits” are in preliminary construction phase for Alief Park (11903 Bellaire) and for Tidwell Park (9720 Spaulding) with opening dates tentatively planned for the end of summer/beginning of fall. An additional Playground Without Limits is being planned for the West Gray Adaptive Recreation Center (1475 West Gray) pending funding availability.
These sites were chosen based on their proximity to large concentrations of people with disabilities. For information on “Playgrounds Without Limits” or on how to donate log on to www.hpbinc.org.
Visit our Vale-Asche Foundation Playground photo archive for pictures of its construction, completion and dedication (this slideshow will open in a new browser).
The Playgrounds Without Limits campaign was created to provide funding to address this problem. Its goal is to provide funding for three playgrounds, which exceed ADA requirements, to be built in public parks. The playground locations are based on park facilities and their proximity to large concentrations of people with disabilities, based on figures provided by the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities. These playgrounds will allow all children the chance to play together on the same playground.
The Vale-Asche Foundation Playground at Memorial Park is the first playground completed. Dedicated on December 16, 2006, this playground gives children of all abilities a place where they can play together.
The Vale-Asche Foundation Playground at Memorial Park is just the beginning. Two new “Playgrounds Without Limits” are in preliminary construction phase for Alief Park (11903 Bellaire) and for Tidwell Park (9720 Spaulding) with opening dates tentatively planned for the end of summer/beginning of fall. An additional Playground Without Limits is being planned for the West Gray Adaptive Recreation Center (1475 West Gray) pending funding availability.