Mobility can be difficult for some people whether young or old. That’s why Edina’s first barrier-free playground, created by Minnesota/Wisconsin Playground, was installed at Rosland Park. “Barrier-free means that any ‘body’ can utilize this playground,” says Harlan Lehman, president of Minnesota/Wisconsin Playground. The surface is firm and stable, making it easy to roll across, whereas most playgrounds have wood chips or rocks. “Even the highest point of the playground is accessible to everyone,” says Lehman, adding that this makes all of the equipment at the park welcoming to all who want to play, regardless of his or her ability. The planning for this new large playground began in the early spring of 2016 and was completed on October 26.
Accessible playground features include zip-lines and a brand new swing set called an expression swing. The accessible expression swing seats two and allows parents to watch their kids at the same time as they’re swinging. There is a larger playground area for kids ages 5 to 12 as well as a smaller playground area for children ages 2 to 5, which has sand as the ground cushion. There is also a tilted swing-runner that can hold up to 16 kids.
Learn more at the City of Edina website.
