Photo by David PollanMagnolia council members unanimously approved a land donation from the school district Aug. 12 for the construction of the city's first inclusive playground in Unity Park designed to better accommodate people with disabilities and seniors.
"The whole concept of bringing an inclusive park is so that everybody can be there and benefit from it," said Brandie Webb, president of nonprofit organization Small Feet, Great Strides in Magnolia. "Hopefully in the future, other children won't feel so uncomfortable around each other [on the playground]. We hope it'll attract more people to Magnolia."
As a lifelong Magnolia resident, Webb said she frequently traveled to other cities to find parks with playground equipment suitable for her 5-year-old daughter, Alexys, who was born with an orthopedic impairment. Magnolia City Administrator Paul Mendes said the inclusive area is likely to be constructed near the tennis courts and existing playground equipment in Unity Park.
"The equipment is set up in such a way that if somebody is not fully mobile they can enjoy slides and so forth," Mendes said. "The reason for wanting to put it close to the park is all the kids would be able to play in that area, and it's not isolating the all-inclusive park from the other kids that are playing at the playground."
The park's amenities are expected to include wheelchair-accessible playground equipment such as zero-gravity swings and slides with smaller steps, special padded flooring, larger restrooms, lowered sinks and other amenities, Webb said.
"If it was where we'd like for it to be, it would be a half-acre play space," Webb said. "In my mind I'm thinking of a nature trail, and a lot of the activities will be on the special ground. I want to make ramps and areas near the real wide trees to make it part of the woods there."
Phyllis Landers Stegen, Magnolia Economic Development Corporation board member, said she has been working with Webb to inform city and community members about the plans for an inclusive park. Stegen, who also has a child with a disability, said officials from the Magnolia and Tomball school districts have expressed a need for an inclusive park to benefit special needs students.
"One main things we're looking at we really want this to be a whole project for the community, city, county and individuals," Stegen said. "We're looking for the individuals and companies to come in and say, 'I would like to buy a piece of equipment,' and put their name on it to have it donated."
City officials are discussing the proposed cost to construct and maintain the new park and are taking into account a rise in insurance rates and certification costs for playground equipment over the years, Mendes said.
Webb said there are several grants available, and corporate and individual donors will likely fund a large portion of the project. Depending on how quickly funding is secured, it could be a few years before the park is constructed and opened to the public, she said. Webb said she hopes to hold a community event this fall to raise funds and awareness for the inclusive park.
"When I first introduced this to the city, I was thinking just a small area [for the inclusive park]," Webb said. "Phyllis [Landers Stegen] was like, 'we're going to do this—show me what you're thinking.' She told me, 'I think we need to go bigger.' I came with a small dream, and they are telling me to dream bigger."
For more information on Brandie Webb's nonprofit organization and how to donate to the inclusive park, visit www.smallfeetgreatstrides.org
