Masonry Magazine October 2006 Page. 42
MASONRY AROUND THE NATION
MASONRY HELPS CREATE A Playground for the Senses
TO A CHILD IN A WHEELCHAIR, A PLAYGROUND HAS TO BE MORE THAN SOME SWINGS AND A SLIDE. IT HAS TO BE DESIGNED TO SUMULATE ALL FIVE SENSES, the ground has to be smooth enough for wheelchairs to roll on, and most of all it has to be fun. The Tammy Lynn Center in Raleigh, N.C., a facility for children and adults with special needs, has accomplished all of that in their new playground.
The new playground, built with donated materials and overseen by a dedicated team of leaders from Raleigh's business community, includes a butterfly sanctuary, bird feeders, herb gardens, a trellis covered in sweet-smelling honeysuckle and a babbling brook. The environment encourages relaxation, playfulness, learning and may even stir up a giggle or two. The playground is covered with attractive shading structures and paved with brick.
"We wanted the playground to be an escape from the everyday, mundane tasks. We wanted to create a visually appealing space with interesting textures," said Mary Freeman, Tammy Lynn Center president. "Because of the nature of our facility, it had to be accessible for wheelchairs."
Landscape architect Chris Hilt of CLH Design P.A. in Cary, N.C., specified brick pavers for the playground. She said that the pavers provide a perfect surface for wheelchair accessibility and effectively tied the design of the playground to the surrounding buildings.
Hilt said that using a variety of materials on the ground, including pavers, effectively provides a different sensory experience, more in tune with the real world.
"This play area is not just an area of respite, it's a place where they learn more mobility," Hilt said.
Helping its clients adjust to the real world is what the Tammy Lynn Center is all about. The facility offers educational, residential and family support to its clients, who have a variety of physical and mental disabilities.
The new playground was planned with different "stimulation" areas in mind. The babbling brook is heard from the wooden bridge above it and butterflies can be seen