Playground Project is more than an upgrade; it’s an invitation

By Robin Gee

When the Ault Park Advisory Council (APAC) volunteers first decided it was time to consider a refresh and upgrade for the park’s playground equipment, they did not know the project would become much more than new slides and swing sets. They knew they wanted to make the playground more accessible to children of all abilities. They also knew they wanted to find a way to bring families into the park for more than the playground. 

Brittany Speed, a trustee and former president of APAC, said they started what they now call the Playground Rejuvenation Project, with the immediate goal of replacing the tired equipment. After all, most of the features in the playground were more than 20 years old.

“We wanted to give it a new, more inclusive look and compete with some of the other playgrounds around nowadays,” Speed said. 

When Speed, along with Rudy Siegel, also an APAC trustee and past president, and current President Eric Dittmer got together to discuss the project, they soon realized the playground could have a higher purpose than just providing a little fun on the monkey bars. It could serve as an invitation, one that could attract visitors to go beyond the play equipment and explore nature on the trails that run throughout the park.

Always on their minds was another larger park project. Some of the park trails are eroded and in need of their own “rejuvenation.” Since many were formed organically, taking shape from old deer trails and footpaths, the entire trail system is in need of a deep focus, plans and engineering.

“As we got deeper into the [playground] project, we saw this as an opportunity to connect the two projects, deepen the trail education,” Speed explained. “It became about connecting the playground with the rest of the nature features we have, like our trails, and it’s about helping to accentuate and highlight the trails system.”

Making the play area work for all kids

The first step, however, was the issue at hand. The playground was in need of new equipment. APAC members are working with Cincinnati Parks’ Chris Magee, chief architect on the project, and with DWA Recreation, a vendor that specializes in designing accessible play areas to create a fun and inclusive space.

“The definition of play has changed, so it’s necessary to update the features of the playground,” said Siegel.

The group also got advice from the Hamilton County Department of Developmental Services (HCDDS) and sent out surveys to community members to learn what they’d like to see in the play area. 

“HCDDS gave us some surprising direction as well,” Siegel said. “They had folks with disabilities on their staff, and they came out to the site and visited. We were looking at the access to the restrooms, and it has a switchback sidewalk that goes down to it. One of the ladies said, that’s a long path for me. If I have disabilities, and I need to get to the restroom. I’d rather go straight down.”

Unfortunately, the play area is on a hill, a challenge when it comes to meeting grading standards to be considered ADA accessible. Siegel said they got close but were not quite able to meet all the grading requirements. Still, the architects have built in as many inclusive elements as they could into the design. 

The park is somewhat oval-shaped with a path and compass in the middle dividing the play area into little kids (ages toddler to 3 or 4 years old) and older kids (ages 4 to 12). The project will be built on the same footprint, a significant cost savings for the design. 

There was not enough money in the budget to cover the entire space with a rubberized surface popular in accessible playgrounds. Yet, the design does include the soft rubber surface on the little kids’ side. On the older kids area, the surface will be wood mulch.

Most of the equipment has sensory features. The new design will have at least the same number of swings but may have a bit more, Speed said. Mommy and me style swings will be added. 

Perhaps the most striking feature is the safe 20-foot climbing tower. Netting inside the tower keeps kids safe, but the height provides a challenge for active climbers. 

The funding journey

Although Cincinnati Parks serves as the manager of the project, it was up to APAC to get the ball rolling on funding for the project. In 2021 APAC went to the Cincinnati Business Committee to ask for the project to be included in the request for capital budget allocation from the state. Speed wrote the request for playground funds, and Siegel wrote to request funding for a trails project. 

If the state approved the funding, the city would serve as the bonding agent through which the state funding is received. 

It took a couple of years to secure the funds but the state did approve the two projects. Together the allocation was $350,000 for the two, half for the playground and half for the trails. The next step was to bring the project to Cincinnati Parks for approval and to get it into the parks department’s busy project schedule.

This was excellent news, but by the time the money would be received the cost for the work and equipment had gone up. And, the group had learned more about the needs for accessibility. The $175,000 for the playground project was not going to be enough to do all the group wanted to do.

APAC put together new estimates for what they felt the project would require. The final tally was $375,000. They were charged then with raising the additional $200,000. It would come from foundations and APACs fundraising efforts including its capital campaigns and events. 

Early on in the fundraising process, APAC received $50,000 from the Saul Schottenstein Family Foundation B. The family foundation is associated with Hyde Park residents Susan and Jeff Harris who became interested in the project and felt it fit the mission of the foundation. 

“They’ve made really wonderful contributions beyond the funding,” Siegel said. “Their daughter is involved with Denver downtown parks. So they’ve had a wonderful perspective of what can happen, what current playground projects look like. They also importantly contributed to the accessibility and inclusive aspects of the project that was a real focus for them on the playground.

The Schottenstein Foundation has also committed to additional funding for a “phase two” of the playground project. Plans are in process to build a “playscape” that will tie the playground into the Kids’ Tree Trail. The trail is a kid friendly hiking path, and the playscape will be built between the playground and the trail and will include educational nature-themed activities.

APAC also partnered with the Cincinnati Parks Foundation. The foundation made a contribution to the project and has been very helpful in directing and guiding APAC to outreach to other foundations,” Siegel said. 

At press time, APAC has made significant progress toward their goal but still has a funding gap. They are reaching out to more foundations and are working on more events and campaigns. If they can meet their goal, the plan is to have the playground in place and ready for kids and families by the end of 2025.

For more information or to donate, go to aultparkac.org/membership.