Building an Inclusive Park for Holden: Understanding Community Needs,  Priorities, and Expectations

Curtis, Samantha

Student Work

Building an Inclusive Park for Holden: Understanding Community Needs, Priorities, and Expectations

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Holden is a small town in central Massachusetts with highly-rated school systems, competitive youth sports programs, and lively community organizations. However, community-members report that town playgrounds are in poor shape, and equipment is inaccessible for individuals with impaired mobility. For instance, children or parents who use wheelchairs cannot enjoy playscapes that lack ramps and accessible surfacing. The Holden Inclusive Park Committee is spearheading an initiative to design and build a multigenerational inclusive park, which will be located at 1 Holden Street behind the Light Department. A large body of psychological research highlights the social, physical, and mental health benefits of outdoor play for children, parents, and grandparents alike. Building an inclusive park will help ensure that all Holden residents can engage in play and reap such benefits, regardless of their mobility status. This project aimed to understand Holden community members’ experiences with inclusive and intergenerational play and to identify their needs and desires for the new park. Surveys of 289 community-members and interviews with 6 stakeholders helped to highlight residents' lived experiences with exclusion and to identify their needs for specific playground equipment. Finally, the information gathered was used to create a website of resources to further inform the Holden community about all aspects of the park, including the committee’s timeline and the project’s theoretical underpinnings.

This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

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