Inclusive design: Take a look at the transformation of this Bellingham school playground
Silver Beach Elementary School is one of several schools in the Bellingham Public School District that now has a new, inclusive playground on its campus.
Construction of the new playground began in June and was finished Aug. 28, just before the start of the 2023-24 school year.
The playground replaced the elementary school’s older playground with an expanded footprint and new equipment that is designed to accommodate recreation for children in different ways. It still has the traditional elements of a playground, like swings and a slide. But the slides have a wider base at the bottom to support a safer landing while some of the swings have supportive backs and secure straps.
“Playgrounds that are thoughtfully designed to provide access for all (kids) make our schools more welcoming, inclusive and fun places to learn and be active,” said Bellingham Public Schools spokesperson Dana Smith in a statement to the Bellingham Herald.
The new playground at Silver Beach Elementary School cost a total of $1.38 million, including materials and construction. It was funded by the $122 million 2022 Bellingham Public Schools bond passed by voters.
The playground has a base of rubberized tiles instead of woodchips in order to make the area more accessible for those who may have trouble navigating an uneven surface.
The playground also includes equipment like chimes and interactive games that encourage diverse types of play. There is a separate playground for preschool students.
Mary Gutierrez has two kids who attend Silver Beach Elementary School. Her family lives nearby and often walks to school.
“We’ve been coming here since before the kids went to school here and it was not a very accessible playground, especially for younger kids or kids with limited mobility,” Gutierrez said about the school’s former playground. “We’re really glad that all of (our kids’) friends can play on it with them now, too.”
Gutierrez told The Herald her children can’t get enough of the new equipment.
“They love it. They want to get to school early now,” Gutierrez said. “Every waking moment they want to come up here and play.”
In addition to serving the school’s students, the playground also serves as a community park for the neighborhood. Silver Beach Elementary School Principal Teri Herda told The Herald she has seen it completely full on the weekends.
“We just wanted to come up with a design that was super inclusive and would fit everybody’s needs,” Herda said. “And — wow — if you look at the playground, there is something for everybody to do.”
This project is part of a plan by Bellingham Public Schools to create inclusive playgrounds at every school in the district. The district created a playground advisory committee in 2021 to guide that process, according to previous reporting by The Herald. The designs are based on the concept of universal design, which aims to create an environment that is usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.
The district is working on prioritizing universal design as the new standard for all of its playgrounds.
Sunnyland, Parkview and Alderwood elementary schools also have inclusive playgrounds. The district anticipates planning a new playground for Northern Heights Elementary School next. Geneva and Wade King elementary schools are also listed as high priority for new playgrounds, according to Smith.
