Not so long ago, a playground in Auburn accessible to every kid was the crazy dream of a few forward-thinking people.
But with Monday’s groundbreaking on the 32,000-square-foot Barrier-Free Playground at Les Gove Park, that dream just took one big step toward waking life.
With freshly-turned earth at his back, Daryl Faber, director of Auburn Parks, Arts and Recreation, made a bold prediction.
“It will be the most outstanding playground and sensory garden in the region and probably west of the Mississippi,” Faber declared. “People are going to come to Auburn when they hear about this playground. We’re talking about 30,000-square-feet of interactive opportunities.”
Like other barrier-free playgrounds, this one is keyed to the physical, sensory and developmental abilities of all kids, helping them play together, learn together and develop crucial life skills.
When the playground opens in mid-June, it will offer universally accessible pathways and surfacing, play structures configured to support all levels of development, ramps, bridges, and transfer stations – allowing every child to reach the highest play deck — elevated sand tables, interactive walls, activity panels, and auditory elements.
Kids will dig the cozy spots where everyone can gather, the swings and bouncers with back support, the sensory-rich and tactile surfaces and activities that stimulate the imagination, the equipment that provides diverse play opportunities for all, including tunnels, waist-level play areas, and other barrier-free options.
Kids will walk in safety on the poured-in-place surfacing and enjoy concrete stone textured like the rock of the White and Green Rivers.
“It will be outstanding,” Faber said.
Replacing a former play structure dating to the 1960s that is not universally accessible, the Barrier-Free Playground should be ready by KidsDay on June 25.
“It’s a wonderful thing to have a dream and to see that dream fulfilled,” said Auburn City Councilmember Lynn Norman, a member of the Barrier-Free Task Force. “It’s a sad thing to take a child to a playground and not really have any equipment that child can play with. And that was the combination of two things that brought up this project.
“… My continuing hope,” Norman concluded, “is that playgrounds like this will no longer be the exception but the standard by which all playgrounds are built, because all playgrounds should include fun for all children.”
Auburn has raised more than $235,000 in support of the playground from individuals, corporations, businesses, granting agencies, foundations and service clubs. A King County Youth Sports Facility grant awarded the City $70,000, the Rotary Club of Auburn and the City’s Employee Recycling Program both donated $10,000.
The City also received a $5,000 Muckleshoot Charity Grant and a $3,169 donation from the City of Auburn Employees. The Auburn Noon Lions Club donated $2,500, the Auburn Youth Council has pledged $2,600, and the Soroptimist International of Auburn gave $1,600.
Individual donations to date total $2,305. Area businesses have donated $2,217, students from the Auburn School District have donated $1,439.37 and the Detlef Schrempf Foundation awarded the project $1,000. In-kind donations of material and professional services total more than $27,000.
Among the other donors are the Washington State Law Enforcement Association, Auburn Police Officers Association, Auburn Police Guild, Optimist Club of Auburn and the VFW White River Valley Post 1741.
Fundraising is in full swing, and everyone is invited to participate in the campaign. The following donation levels are available to help fund the project: Playground Leadership Circle ($20,000 and up); Playground Best Friend ($12,500-$19,999); Playground Friend ($7,500-$12,499); Playground Buddy ($2,500-$7,499); Playground Pal ($500-$2,499); Playground Companion ($100-499); Playmate ($25-99). Different recognition benefits are offered in each funding category.
Corporations, businesses, foundations, or individuals can donate and the City of Auburn’s non-profit community partner, the Northwest Parks Foundation is accepting them. To make a gift to the Imagine Play for All campaign by credit card please visit NW Park’s secure web site at www.nwparks.org, choose “donate now”, and reference Auburn’s Imagine Play for All campaign. To make a donation by mail, please send a check to the Northwest Parks Foundation, c/o Auburn Imagine Play for All, PO Box 605, Woodinville, WA 98072-0605. Matching gifts are also encouraged.
For additional details, call the Parks, Arts & Recreation Department at 253-931-3043 or the Northwest Parks Foundation at 425-284-0420. A barrier-free playground far surpasses the requirements of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA).
Landon Gallion, 17, a member of the design committee, helped to pick out some of the toys that will be in the park.
“I like the slide and the slide and the swing and teeter-totter and the balancing log,” said Gallion, a student at Mountainview High School.
“He’s been talking about it a lot,” said Landon’s mother, Pam Gallion.
“It’s nice that Auburn’s out in front on something like this,” said Kal Gallion, Landon’s father.
