Does your family get super excited when you hear your city is building a new park? A few years ago, my city got its first “inclusive playground” and I immediately went online to figure out what that meant.
What’s an Inclusive Playground?
Inclusive playgrounds are set up so that kids of all abilities are able to fully explore and enjoy the park.
You’ll find merry-go-rounds that are wheel-chair accessible and provide resistance when spinning.
And you’ll also see swings that feature a chest bar to keep kids safely in swings.
Plus, the whole playground is set on a thick rubber mat to minimize injuries.
But, it’s so much more than just accessibility. Inclusive play is also about providing play items for an array of ages.
That means parents can bring babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and older kids to the same park and they will all find things to do there.
LANDSCAPE STRUCTURES
Through my research, one name kept popping up: Landscape Structures.
They are a leader in inclusive playgrounds, which help children develop physical, cognitive, sensory and social skills.
It’s through this inclusive play that Landscape Structures believe kids learn life lessons like leadership, persistence, support and empathy.
Find a Landscape Structures park near you!
Where is Meadow Crest Playground?
Meadow Crest is located in Renton Highlands at 3000 NE 16th Street Renton, WA 98056.
I’ve been taking my kids to Meadow Crest since my oldest was crawling. It was the closest park to us where he could crawl around outside and not get too dirty.
We’ve been doing play dates here with our PEPS group for almost 4 years.
The entire park is fenced in, so we don’t worry about our kids running off. And it’s pretty to keep an eye on multiple kids.
What’s cool about Meadow Crest is that it’s also the home to an inclusive preschool program for kids of all abilities (Meadow Crest Early Learning Center.)
That’s because it was developed along with the Renton School District.
So when we play there, we often see kids who are different than our kids. My oldest is quite social and usually initiates some sort of game to play with the kids he meets at Meadow Crest.
As a parent, I like that because I want my kids to learn how to include all kinds of people in their play.
Inclusive playgrounds like Meadow Crest support social equity and inclusion, which is so important as we raise this next generation.
So, What Sets Meadow Crest Apart?
Meadow Crest is one of those parks where my kids ask me over and over again if we can play there.
That’s because this park is set up with 4 distinct areas:
TODDLER + PRESCHOOLER AREA
This area is geared for children ages 2-5. It focuses on early development to help develop balance, coordination, imagination, and social and musical skills.
Both my kids spend a lot of time here! There a huge caterpillar climbing structure that is perfect for preschoolers and a good challenge for toddlers.
OLDER KIDS
This area is for kids ages 5-12. They can play on swings and climbing equipment, including an oval dish swing, large enough for several people to swing together.
My toddler loves swinging with his brother in the oval dish swing!
This section is for kids of all ages. It features a climbing wall and two slides, a sliding glider large enough for a wheelchair or two, and a large spinning ring for balance, with a diameter capable of including 8-10 people.
NATURE AREA
Finally, there’s the Nature Area. It’s back near the school and features a climbable bear cub, a little pathway, and a rainbow walkway.
The kids always end their play dates here in hopes that the Moms will keep talking and they can keep playing!
MEADOW CREST PARK HOURS
One thing to keep in mind is that since Meadow Crest playground is located at a school, it’s not open to the public during school hours.
During the school year, families can visit anytime after 4:30pm Monday-Thursday or all day Friday, Saturday or Sunday.
And it’s open every day during the summer.
October is Sensory Awareness Month
About 5 years ago, someone told me that their son had “sensory issues.” It was the first time I had ever heard about this.
Her son didn’t like loud noises, was particular about what he wore, couldn’t handle messy things like Play-Doh or fingerpaint, and the list went on and on.
Now that I’m a parent, I’ve been hearing more and more parents talk about their child’s sensory sensitivities.
In fact, there are kids in my son’s preschool who wear headphones to stay calm at school. And we have friends whose kids go to special preschools that specialize in helping kids figure out how to manage their sensory issues.
That’s why I’m glad that October is Sensory Awareness Month!
Let’s keep this in mind as we plan play dates and adventures with new friends!
Visit PlayLSI.com to find an inclusive playground near you!
Fun Things to do Around Seattle with Kids
Spend the Day at Pier 57 in Seattle with Kids
6 Tips for Enjoying the Pacific Science Center with Toddlers
Seattle Ice Cream Cruise for Kids
Take a Seattle Argosy Cruise to Kid-Friendly Tillicum Excursion
30 Comments
Looks like a great place to take the kids! Never heard of such a thing as an inclusive playground before…
It’s such a fun concept! I’m glad we have one so close to us!
I didn’t know about this playground before but it looks great. It makes me want to shrink into the size of a kid and play. Thanks for sharing!
Haha! I’d love to play there, too!
An inclusive playground is such a wonderful idea !More places should have them 🙂
They should! I love the concept!
this looks like such a great playground! i wish i had ones like this in my area! i’m going to take a look and see what I can find. your kids look like they had a blast!
They have such a fun time every time we go there!
What a fun-filled place! Makes you want to run out and play. Also I learned what an inclusive playground is. Just saw a sign for one at another playground and wondered what the exact meaning was. Now I know. Thank you!
Yay! Glad I could help!
This looks awesome . I am going to check the link to see if one is near me.
I hope there is one!
What a cool playground! I miss the playground days, my son outgrew them.
We’re still in the thick of playground days and I love it!
I have never heard of Meadow Crest. I have small nieces in Seattle. I will be sure to take them there when I visit them next.
Oh definitely take them! It’s super fun!
How cool! Didn’t know of this concept
I only heard about it in the last couple of years!
This is a really pretty playground. Kids need this to have a time away from the screen.
Yes, it’s a great break!
ive never actually heard of the term inclusive playground before. I love how developed it is as compared to what they were back in the days
Oh I know, right? We had some crazy playgrounds growing up!
We love these playgrounds!! Thankfully we have quite a few in our area, they are starting to renovate a lot to be like these. Such a great idea!
I’m so happy they are popping up all over the place!
Grateful too kids enjoying their childhood. Playground still a perfect place for kids even if we are living in technical and digital world. Spend time with your kiddos outside always. You kids are cuties…:)
Oh thanks so much 🙂 Yes, get out and play!
Great article Marcie! It is so important to let kids mingle in these parks, so that they can learn the value of kindness and friendship towards each other. Cities are rapidly getting void of green spaces, which is a big deterrent for the overall development of our kids.
Yes, I feel so lucky in the PNW that we have so many parks available! It plays such a huge role for physical and mental health.
Wow, nice post. This is really a fantastic playground. Children need this to take a moment from the screen.
Thanks! We are huge fans of playing at cool parks!