Sassafras was made to be enjoyed by kids
of all ages and abilities. The park boasts many features based around accessibility
and inclusion, including adjustable basketball hoops, zip lines and swings with
modified seating, equipment accessed from ground level, wide decking for
wheelchairs, and fully accessible picnic tables.
Use Nature to
Nurture:
Sassafras provides kids with 3.5 acres of
prime outdoor play space that inspires curiosity, encourages creativity, spreads
joy, and relieves stress. The park design takes inspiration from elements of
nature. Kids can climb on replication "tree stumps” complete with friendly
raccoons peeking out from the stumps! Varieties of soft grasses that kids can
touch are planted throughout the park.
Build
Positive Relationships:
Sassafras allows children of all
abilities to play together and participate in group activities. For example,
the park features two zip lines so that differently-abled children can play
side-by-side. One has a modified seat for children who need assistance, and the
other is designed for children who don't. Thanks to fully accessible
picnic tables, people in wheelchairs can sit in the midst of everyone else
instead of being stuck at the end of the table.
Create
Diverse Spaces and Activities
The playground has spaces for all kinds
of activities. The three small picnic shelters are not only for eating—they were
also designed to offer a quiet, cozy place for kids with sensory issues to take
a break. Underneath the main play structure are benches for young kids and
their parents, along with several play panels with braille activities for the
visually impaired.
Thanks to a
focus on universal design and ensuring accessibility for children with special
needs, this unique space helps harness the power of play for families across
Wake County.
