In 2023, the Deep Creek Lake Lions Club convened a special advisory committee to provide input and recommendations for creating an inclusive playground that welcomes and ensures access to all children and adults with disabilities and encourages socialization between those with and without disabilities.
This collaboration with other county groups is part of the plan to establish and maintain an inclusive playground, the first in Garrett County, to serve the local community and encourage visitors to Deep Creek Lake to enjoy the Lions’ McHenry Community Park. Sparked by the efforts of local student Landon Georg and his family to raise funds to make the playground a reality, the advisory committee now includes members of the disability community, other community members, Garrett County officials, and experts in accessible design.
The initiative included the development of an Inclusive Playground Survey designed to obtain input from homeowners, renters, and visitors, including those with and without disabilities, relative to potential usage, recommended structural elements, and features needed for an inclusive park. The survey, distributed starting in January of 2024, had 524 community member responses and the Club recently issued its summary of results.
The survey found almost universal support for specialized playground equipment that provides access to users with a wide range of ability levels and identified the park features and equipment types most requested by the survey participants. The Club will use the data to guide decision-making on the construction of a new playground at the McHenry Community Park, which the Deep Creek Lake Lions Club operates and maintains. The next steps include fundraising, program management, and site allocation.
In summary, the Lions Club research led to the following findings:
- Demographics and Usage Patterns: Most respondents (79%) were full-time residents of Garrett County, while 12% were part-time residents and 8% were visitors. Regarding potential usage of the inclusive playground, 41% of respondents indicated they or someone they knew would utilize it. Of survey respondents, 47% identified as either a person with a disability or a parent, grandparent, sibling, or caregiver of a person with a disability.
- Challenges and Needs: Mobility challenges (68%), behavioral/social/emotional challenges (57%), and challenges associated with autism spectrum disorder (54%) were identified as primary challenges to inclusivity. Respondents emphasized the importance of features like overall accessibility, ground surfaces, wheelchair-accessible swings, and sensory elements to facilitate inclusive play.
- Barriers to Accessibility: Identified barriers included inaccessible locations, pathways, and equipment, as well as a lack of accessible facilities such as bathrooms and drinking fountains. Input from individuals with disabilities in the design process was also highlighted as crucial to the identification of barriers.
- Recommendations for Accessibility: Respondents emphasized the importance of physical accessibility, safety, universal design, sensory features, and integrated play spaces. Themes such as physical play, imaginative play, and nature play were deemed most important for the playground.
- Structural Features and Specialized Equipment: Landscaping, lighting, restrooms, and soft surfacing were ranked highest in importance for structural features. In terms of specialized equipment, inclusive wheelchair swing sets, and individual imaginative playscapes were prioritized.
- Community Support: A significant portion of respondents (88%) expressed willingness to participate in fundraising efforts or contribute to the park’s costs, indicating strong community support for the initiative.
According to Deep Creek Lake Lions Club president Mike O’Brien, “We at the Club were happy and encouraged by the significant number of community members who responded to the survey, as we gained great insight from this research effort. I would like to commend our dedicated team of Club researchers who worked with others outside the organization to make this research possible and a valuable success as we move towards making this playground a reality.”
For more detailed information read the executive summary or full text of the Inclusive Playground Survey Report on the Deep Creek Lake Lions Club website at https://deepcreeklions.org/park-projects/handicap-accessible-playground/
For more general information on the club, visit https://deepcreeklions.org/. To provide comments on the idea, obtain more information on this project, become a member, or express interest in this or future projects, email DCLLIONS@gmail.com or call 323 325-5466.
