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Better Together
'Everyone deserves to play': How St. Luke's helps a nonprofit create inclusive playgrounds
Kids say the darndest things.
They can make us laugh or say something that leaves us scratching our heads.
But in some cases, they might provide some wisdom beyond their years, something that in turn makes a real impact.
That’s what happened after a brief discussion between Kim Leonard and her daughter, Avery.
“She was entering kindergarten … there was a little girl in the class who was a wheelchair user and has cerebral palsy, and she couldn’t access the playground,” Leonard said. “So, we were brainstorming ways to include her, and my daughter – who was 5 at the time – said, ‘Mom, we just need to build a new playground.’”
That discussion led to Leonard initiating a campaign to improve the playground at Sawtooth Elementary School in Twin Falls. Soon afterward, the Idaho Playground Project was formed. The nonprofit’s primary mission is to ensure equal access to play for all children in Idaho.
“We just realized that this was so much bigger than one kid and Sawtooth Elementary,” Leonard said.
The school held a ribbon-cutting ceremony last fall as its new adaptive playground was unveiled.
Sara Egan is the mother of Zella, the girl with cerebral palsy who inspired Avery Leonard to advocate for a better playground. Egan said the playground’s improvements have meant the world to Zella.
“Time on the playground is really a highlight for her, because that’s where she can be a kid,” Egan said. “It’s where some of her friendships have been formed. … The biggest thing about all this for Zella is she likes the interaction with her peers. That’s where we’ve found most of her growth has come, is through that interaction with people and the resources that have become available.”
And the seemingly simple act of play is an important part of a child’s development. The American Academy of Pediatrics says that from a young age, play helps children in their physical, social, emotional and cognitive development. Children also improve language skills as they learn new words by interacting with others.
That’s why it makes sense that St. Luke’s would be involved in the evolution of the Idaho Playground Project.
“It’s very humbling to be a part of a community that shows up and St. Luke’s really cared about our mission,” Leonard said. “St. Luke’s helped with that Sawtooth playground; they gave us a generous donation. And then what’s really cool is we’ve since established a relationship with the people at St. Luke’s.”This year, the Idaho Playground Project applied for – and received – a Community Health Improvement Fund (CHIF) grant, which played a role in the nonprofit’s goal of improving the playground at Harrison Elementary School in Twin Falls. That project is expected to be completed later this summer.
Projects like the one at Harrison can include bonded rubber surfacing, so wheelchairs can navigate the surface, but is soft enough to prevent injuries if children fall. They might also include pathways to access the playground and ramps that allow children to have some independence while they’re playing.
“I’m grateful for the people at St. Luke’s,” Leonard said. “They’ve just been so supportive and they care so much about making sure that everyone is included. They understand the health side of playgrounds and why play is so important.”
Because of that understanding, Mak Searle said it was pretty clear to her that the playground projects were something that St. Luke’s would want to support.
“They align with our mission to improve the health of the people we serve by creating spaces that support connection, movement and belonging,” said Searle, community health manager for St. Luke’s Magic Valley. “The Idaho Playground Project strengthens the well-being of our communities and we’re grateful to be a part of this meaningful work.”
For her part, Leonard just hopes that meaningful work will continue to happen in other areas around Idaho.
“That’s the goal, for sure,” she said. “Another goal is that when schools start building a playground that they make them accessible and inclusive.
“Everyone deserves to play.”
About The Author
Chris Langrill is a writer and copy editor for the St. Luke’s Communications and Marketing department.
Better Together
