City Parks Department explores Beartooth Park accessibility upgrade

Posted 2/28/17

Spurred by a request from a family, the city recently added a security fence to the perimeter of Beartooth Park and is exploring the feasibility of making it one that caters to children living with disabilities — complete with sensory-stimulating …

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City Parks Department explores Beartooth Park accessibility upgrade

Posted

Project would add sensory playground equipment, other amenities for people with developmental disabilities

The City of Powell Parks Department is in the preliminary stages of turning a local park into one that would be accessible to kids with developmental disabilities.

Spurred by a request from a family, the city recently added a security fence to the perimeter of Beartooth Park and is exploring the feasibility of making it one that caters to children living with disabilities — complete with sensory-stimulating playground equipment.

“I think a park like that would be very cool in our area,” City Administrator Zane Logan told the city council last week, adding, “Work is being done by the Parks Department with different organizations to see about funding, as well as volunteer help to work on installing the specific equipment needed.”

“If we could get other organizations to partner with us on it, we’ll certainly try to make it work,” Logan said.

Beartooth Park is located on Powell’s north end, at the end of Beartooth Drive.

Though the park’s half-acre size would seem to make it an unlikely choice for an upgrade, Parks Superintendent Del Barton said that situation could soon change. A roughly 30-acre parcel of land just to the west of the park is in the process of being annexed into the city as part of a larger subdivision currently in development. As part of the annexation process, a portion of the land must be earmarked for a city park.

“It’s still an ongoing discussion,” Barton told the Tribune. “The eastern portion of that land would be developed into a residential area. If it all comes to fruition, there will be a 2 1/2-acre park right adjacent to the existing Beartooth Park.”

The existing park acreage would be set aside for new, specialized equipment — with the existing playground equipment relocated — while the 2 1/2 acres of annexed land would be designed as an all-inclusive park area.

“We’re getting designs and equipment cost and information, not only for the developmentally disabled area, but for the 2 1/2 acres that is set aside as well,” Barton said. “It’s kind of a combination of both.”

He said the first step toward making the existing park land appropriate for children with developmental disabilities is to fully enclose it with fencing, “so there aren’t kids running out into the street,” Barton said. The city recently had a fencing contractor completely enclose Beartooth Park with chain-link fence.

“Beartooth is an ideal choice, because three of the four sides of the park (were) already fenced,” Barton said.

He is now conducting some public outreach, including visiting with those who initially contacted the city about the possibility.

“There have been several residents who have mentioned that a park like this would be great to have here,” Barton said.

The Parks Department will begin meeting with local groups such as the Rotary Club.

“We’re in the process of getting some funding together, as well as drumming up community interest from those who would like to participate in the project,” Barton said. “We’d like to make it a specialized park for community users, one that they have a hand in and can be proud of. A buy-in from the community, especially those citizens interested in developing a safe playground, would benefit everybody.”

A park catering to people with disabilities was recently completed in Cody, the first of its kind in Wyoming. Barton said while certain aspects of the Beartooth project would be similar, there will be differences.

“The park in Cody is open to everybody, including those with developmental disabilities,” Barton said. “But due to the circumstances here, we want the specialized portion of the park to be specifically for the developmentally disabled, not all-inclusive. It’s gated that way, and signs would be posted to that effect, if everything works out.”

A project of this magnitude would be an expensive one, though a ballpark figure has yet to be determined. A swing for developmentally disabled children, for example, costs in the neighborhood of $450 each, and signage that designates an area for special use can cost anywhere from $200-$400 per sign. A typical sensory equipment set can run about $8,000.

The Parks Department will continue to investigate different equipment options as they come up with a design for the park. Barton also plans to attend a training session in March to gain a better understanding of the equipment that would best serve the project’s needs.

Though a timeline has not been set, Barton said it could take several years to complete the project.

“As money and equipment becomes available, we can begin to purchase and install it,” he said. “But it’s going to take some time.”

The group OurKids also has a project currently in the planning stages to benefit kids with disabilities, though on a larger scale. According to Denise Phillips, OurKids would like to design and construct an all-inclusive community recreation center.

“We’re looking at something that could be used year-round,” Phillips said. “And potentially with basketball courts, because holy moley, we need more.”

OurKids began the fundraising process a year ago with its first Daddy Daughter Dance, an event that proved popular enough to have a second one earlier this month. The group is looking ahead to other fundraising events as the weather gets warmer, including selling concessions at softball tournaments, and is in talks with community service groups for additional support. OurKids also is in the process of receiving nonprofit status.

“We’re in the very beginning stages at this point,” Phillips said. “We don’t really have a plan for a location yet, but the idea that we have in our heads is for a building with indoor and outdoor play equipment that can be used year-round by anyone in the community, but will also be wheelchair-accessible, disability friendly and just a place where all kids can get together.”

OurKids would like to have something in the works within the next five years; until that time, they will continue to raise money and explore other means of funding.

Phillips said the only handicap-accessible swing in town is located at Westside Elementary, and it still requires someone to transfer the child from the wheelchair to the swing. Also, children who struggle with appropriate boundaries and a sense of self-preservation are inclined to run, making a fenced-in area important for safety.

The president of OurKids has been invited and plans to attend the next Parks Department meeting on the Beartooth Park project, “to see if we can work in conjuction with them on that project,” Phillips said.

“It’s important for city parks to have accessible outdoor equipment as well,” she said, adding, “We would definitely be glad to give our input and whatever help we can to the Parks Department to get it up and going.”

(Editor's note: This version corrects the size of the parcel of land that's in the process of being annexed into the city.)

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