Two state parks on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain will soon have new playgrounds that will open a range of play activities for children with disabilities.
The state is spending around $1.1 million to build the special needs playgrounds at Fontainebleau State Park near Mandeville and Bogue Chitto State Park in Washington Parish. The 7,200-square-foot playgrounds will have specialized equipment, as well as seating areas and picnic tables, the Louisiana State Parks office said in a recent news release.
A rendering of the new special needs playground that will open soon at Fontainebleau State Park near Mandeville. (Rendering provided by Louisiana State Parks)
Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser, whose office oversees the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, said the new playgrounds will enable more people to use the parks.
“We met with moms of kids who have special needs and came up with the idea of the playgrounds,” Nungesser said.
Inclusive playgrounds are a trend across the U.S. as agencies and governments seek to open recreation for a wider range of users. Sometimes called “outdoor classrooms,” the playgrounds are designed to accommodate children with physical or intellectual disabilities, allowing for greater access and offering sensory experiences for kids with a wide range of abilities.
“I think it’s great,” said Trevor Johnson, manager of the Miracle League Northshore, a St. Tammany organization that provides recreational leagues for kids with disabilities. “You never want to limit any kid the opportunity to get out there and play with their friends.”
The specialized playgrounds are part of a greater effort to open the parks to users with various special needs, Nungesser said.
George Wood takes in the scene along a trail at the Fontainebleau State Park in Mandeville, Friday, September 29, 2023. (Photo by Brett Duke, The Times-Picayune)
Last year, for instance, specialized, all-terrain wheelchairs were introduced to some parks, Fontainebleau included, that allow users much greater access to trails through the woods.
The chairs, which have tank-like tracks, are able to traverse mud, water and uneven terrain. At Fontainebleau, the special vehicles have opened access to six miles of trails.
“That has been such a great thing,” Nungesser said. “We’ve ordered 10 more.”
As the state park’s office can find sponsors, he added, additional programs could be on the way.
“We’re always looking for grants and partnerships so we can do more to open up the parks to more people.
“One idea was even swimming pools with ramps,” he said.
The Miracle League, based at Coquille Park in Covington, offers league play for kids from St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington parishes, Johnson said. He said awareness is growing to the need for more playgrounds and leagues that offer opportunities to a wider audience.
What is needed, Johnson said, “is for more people to see a playground like that and say, ‘Why don’t we have one in our neighborhood?’”
The playgrounds at Fontainebleau and Bogue Chitto will be funded through a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant, officials said. Nungesser added that they should be open in October.
Mark Baham, executive director of STARC of Louisiana, said inclusive playgrounds serve more than just kids with disabilities.
"An inclusive playground benefits children of all abilities," he said.