West Fenwick Park - Kent, Washington

West Fenwick Park presented a unique opportunity to bring a classic childhood board game to life in an accessible and inclusive way! Inspired by the iconic slides and ladders of Chutes & Ladders, Northwest Playground Equipment was brought in to design playground equipment that not only mirrored the best features of the game but also created an environment that could be enjoyed by children of all abilities.

Collaborating closely with the landscape architects at Berger Partnership, we designed the equipment layout around key grade points along a fully ADA-accessible pathway, which formed the spaces of the game board. This thoughtful approach ensured that the play environment was inclusive, with accessibility built into every element, allowing children of all abilities to fully engage with the park.

We also needed to ensure that the board game path was free from use zone issues such as slide exits or launch points, prioritizing both safety and ease of use. A total of 9 feet of accessible elevation change was incorporated into the hillside, making it possible for everyone to reach elevated viewpoints that would have been challenging in a typical play environment.

The entire hillside was transformed into a playable surface, using Playground Grass and poured-in-place (PIP) safety surfacing, supporting a 9-foot fall height throughout. This surfacing not only provided safety across multiple grade changes but also allowed for mobility devices to easily navigate the terrain, making the playground truly inclusive for all.

The final challenge was creating a surfacing plan to account for the varied elevations, which was successfully executed. The contrasting colors of the green turf and the brightly colored PIP board game squares further enhanced the visual and play experience.

Northwest Playground Equipment also included a selection of Dumor Site Furnishings and a Poligon shelter as part of this fun and inclusive project.