(PENSACOLA, F.L.) --- Architectural Specialist Katelyn Allen said individuals with disabilities touch every family, every school, every community.
“Think about those in your life who you know who may have autism, ADHD, who might have a visual impairment, a mobility impairment, use a wheelchair, or a cane,” Allen told the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board officials at a special presentation for an inclusive Tippin Park.
On August 18, Allen noted her “background is in accessibility and advocating for people and children with disabilities,” while introducing WeBuildFun, which she helped found in the early 2000s. Along with North Florida Territory Manager Matthew Frey, Allen noted WeBuildFun's partnership with Miracle Recreation, which specializes in Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) playground equipment.
(Photo: We Build Fun Architectural Specialist Katelyn Allen and North Florida Territory Manager Matthew Frey present to Parks & Recreation officials August 18)
“On average, about one in four adults in the United States have a disability,” Allen said. “About 15% of children in Florida are on an individualized education plan or an IEP (Individualized Education Plan).”
Allen broke down ADA numbers, noting that the Escambia County School District, which serves 36,000 children, has about 5,500 local children with an IEP and a diagnosable disability within the school system.
“That is a significant portion of the community,” Allen said.
Don’t let the label ADA-approved equipment fool you, according to the architectural specialist.
“This does not include accessible surfacing, this does not include sensory pieces, this does not include anything that's specifically catered for people with disabilities,” Allen said. “This is just the absolute bare minimum.”
(Photo: WeBuildFun ADA playground presentation given to the Parks & Recreation Board members on August 18)
The bare minimum has never been good enough for former Councilwoman Sheri Myers, who has championed Tippin Park as inclusive for years. This reporter covered Myers when I was with WEAR and saw her distraught over the lack of ADA compliance in a report I wrote in 2022.
Myers' dedication then remains now, seen earlier this year in an April meeting and May meeting. OpGov.News reached out to Myers after the August 20 meeting about the August 18 meeting.
“I have been trying for 15 years to get a special park for children with disabilities, such as Down Syndrome, Autism, vision impairment, hearing and many other disabilities,” Myers said.
Though Myers was present for the presentation, she noted: “There is a system called Best Buddies that designs playgrounds to foster inclusion to help not just kids who have special needs but also children without special needs.”
Myers said it promotes true integration by teaching children to value each other positively.
“There are no certified Best Buddies playgrounds in the panhandle of Florida,” Myers said. “Pensacola would be the first.”
The former councilwoman, who is running against Councilman Charles Bare for District 2, said Tippin Park is the ideal place, located close to schools such as Holm Elementary, which teaches children with special needs. She has been saying this for months, bringing others, including Quint Studder, to Parks & Recreation meetings.
“There are special needs kids who live in the Tippin Park community,” Myers said.
Allen noted in the presentation what Myers has mentioned many times: playground surfacing. The architectural specialist said unitary surfacing, rather than wood chips, is truly ADA accessible, assisting with balance, mobility, and wheelchair use.
“This is also helpful for people who might have a visual impairment and need a steadier surface to be able to maintain balance on,” Allen said.
Fencing is next.
(Photo: WeBuildFun ADA playground presentation given to the Parks & Recreation Board members on August 18)
“This is especially important for families with children with autism,” Allen said. “One of the common things that you know children with autism will do is run off.”
Ultimately, an ADA playground offers sensory and motion play, an orientation path, social opportunities, a communication board, muscle tone support, a range of challenges, and retreat areas.
Board member Suzanne Lewis brought up Tippin Park's location and "all the different things that would have to be changed in that park to be able to develop."
Lewis noted she liked the idea of a circular pattern park there.
"The circular pattern allows for the changes for parking around the edge. and walkways to access the park," Lewis said. "I really like that design feature."
Lewis also noted she liked that the circle is "a circuit where the entire playground is a circle and they're attractive with fencing and vegetation."
"I think it would be very positive for what we're considering," Lewis said.
(Photo: Pensacola Parks & Recreation Board Member Suzanne Lewis at the August 18 meeting)
Whatever the design, Parks and Recreation Director Tonya Byrd noted when it comes to parking, "that would be more of our planning and zoning department. Byrd said the department could help guide the process.
But public input matters most to the parks director.
"I would strongly suggest that we do some public input, some public engagement on the playground before we engage a playground designer to start designing the park," Byrd said. "We need to get the feedback from the community on what elements they would like to see directly from those users."
As for timing, after public input and board recommendations, "It could take months.
"It could take longer than that," Byrd added, noting she has seen it go up fairly quickly. "But you know, all parties really have to agree that at some point we're going to find a consensus and move forward."
Board member Michael Blakenship suggested how to save time.
(Photo: Parks & Recreation Board members Michael Blankenship, left, and Ray Palmer, right, at the August 18 meeting)
"Lay it out and let the community look at the sample," Blakenship said, noting the equipment meets all touch and sensory wheelchair accessibility, as well as benching. "If they (community) have anything different they won't, they can say it then, but we need to go ahead and get it laid out as to what we can see fit in there."
“We will have cost estimates in there for you,” Matthew Frey said, adding he could speak to Byrd outside the meeting. “We can have different options.”
Site and area limitations must be considered, Frey said, adding that "some things," including restrooms, "may be outside of our scope."
The comment opened up a Pandora's bathroom box, according to Parks and Recreation Board Vice Chair Daniel Brask.
“We have restroom facilities issues here in Pensacola, so I don’t think that would be included in that particular proposal,” Brask said, indirectly referring to the Veterans Memorial Park bathroom facility proposal and the Roger Scott Sports Complex bathroom issue.
As for greenspace to the north, Byrd said he will check with the athletic manager how much it is used.
“We all know we are very limited on field space as well,” Byrd said.
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