The North Scott Rotary Club has been in existence for more than 40 years. During those years, the club members have always been interested in helping people with disabilities. Nearly three years ago the club held a successful auction and dinner which doubled their budget for community projects. They decided they wanted to complete a large signature project, and decided to build a community playground. The goal for the playground was for it to be designed for children, adults, grandparents, and people of all abilities.
The North Scott Rotary Club had never built a playground before; however, by utilizing the 7 Principles of Inclusive Playground Design® and a poured rubber surface, they were able to provide a brand-new, all-inclusive play destination for the North Scott community. They named it the North Scott Rotary Inspiration Play Zone, and raised the additional needed funds through grants, auctions, and donations from club members and the community. The additional fundraising was the catalyst that helped them bring this dream of an inclusive play space to reality. The playground held its grand opening October 21st, 2017.
“It was an honor for North Scott Rotary to bring this playground to the community,” said Jeff Ashcraft, President Elect, North Scott Rotary Club.
The playground’s design is focused around the 7 Principles of Inclusive Playground Design®, as outlined in Me2®, a program developed in partnership with PlayCore and Utah State University’s Center for Persons with Disabilities. The program provides an overview of why inclusion is so important, helpful research to help stakeholders understand diversity, inclusion, and social equity, and tips for designing inclusive play environments that benefit the whole child, whole environment, and whole community.
To continue to celebrate the North Scott Rotary Club’s commitment to advancing play and recreation through best practices, Inspiration Play Zone will receive a certificate of recognition, become a part of a network of potential research sites, and will be promoted actively to other communities wishing to create recreation spaces using design and/or programming. To locate the new site, and other National Demonstration Sites, check out https://www.playcore.com/map/nds
