Inspirational Playground: A Castle for Every Princess! – Bellevue, WA

Inspirational Playground: A Castle for Every Princess!

Rationale:

During the City of Bellevue’s strategic planning process, the community prioritized the inclusion of all people with all abilities in city services. The City of Bellevue had reported an increase in need for services for people with all types of disabilities, but funding for services continued to be outpaced by the growth of this population. Although there were some creative and inclusive services for those with disabilities and their families, there were waitlists for many programs, including family support programs.

Goals:

• Cultivate an environment that recognizes all abilities through the removal of barriers and the incorporation of accommodations.
• Engage the community through the cultivation of a welcoming environment where everyone can engage in civic life.
• Encouraging the connection between residents, schools, businesses, non-profits, etc. to work towards a common good for the community.

Project Summary:

The project was originally inspired by a community member’s experience with disabled children in Nepal. He noticed that when children played together, they didn’t look at each other as different, but as close friends. Out of this community member’s observation, Bellevue’s Rotary Club built a bigger vision.

First, a “Play for All Expo” was held in the Downtown Park to share the Inspiration Playground concept with the community, and to celebrate and learn about community support programs for people living with disabilities. The city and the rotary club continued to engage stakeholders and the community on playground design. Specific effort was made to solicit input from parents with children with disabilities. With additional input, a vision for “Inspiration Playground” began to take shape, and the ideal place for construction was identified: Downtown Park.

Next, the rotary club began its fundraising campaign in 2013. There was a “Play for All: Bellevue Rotary Foundation Dinner and Auction,” which raised money for the project as well as increased awareness by stakeholders and high level community/government members. As fundraising continued over the years, over 25 significant organizations and regional partnerships helped raise over $4.5 million towards the project, making its design and construction possible. The city hosted an open house for community input regarding the final design and layout in 2015.

Finally, the club completed the construction of “Inspiration Playground” in 2017. Due to the collaborative efforts from many facets of the community and state government, Inspiration Playground is now a Bellevue attraction within the city’s Downtown Park that has created an inclusive environment, inspiring collaboration and promoting community health.

Engagement Strategies:

The community was engaged, and input was sought primarily through open houses and community gatherings. Events such as the “Play for All Expo” and “Play for All: Bellevue Rotary Foundation Dinner and Auction” sought to inform the community about the project, and to solicit input on desired design and accessibility offerings. Specific effort was made to solicit input from parents with children with disabilities.

Outcomes:

By 2017, the city completed construction of Inspiration Playground and celebrated the opening ceremony. Inspiration Playground is now an inclusive play space enjoyed regionally by families and individuals of all ages and abilities, who play and explore at their own pace.

Additionally, trained community playground ambassadors volunteer to help make the playground fun and inclusive. They are energetic and enthusiastic, easy to talk to, and accessible for children who need assistance or have questions.

Additional Resources:

2021 All-America City Finalist – Bellevue, WA

Local Contact:

Mark Heilman
Neighborhood Outreach Manager, City of Bellevue
450 NE 100th Ave. Bellevue, WA 98004
(425) 452-2735
[email protected]