Greenwood to build autism-friendly park
Playground will be near new splash pad on site of old city pool
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These musical toys are part of an autism-friendly playground in Ormond Beach, Fla. Greenwood officials are building an autism-friendly playground and a splash pad on the site of the old city pool. / Photo provided by the city of Ormond Beach, Fla.
Greenwood’s next city playground will be designed to fit the needs of children with autism, Mayor Mark Myers said.
The Cornerstone Autism Center has agreed to work with architects and engineers to build a playground on the site of the old city pool that will meet the special needs of kids with autism while still appealing to all children, Myers said.
"The city is so happy to be working with Cornerstone on this important project,” Myers said. “We are excited to benefit from Cornerstone’s partnership in creating elements in the park designed to particularly appeal to children with sensory disorders.”
Autism encompasses a wide “spectrum” of sensory disorders. Children on the spectrum often are hypersensitive to noise, lights, touch, tastes or smells.
“I don’t want to make it sound like only children on the spectrum are going to like this, all children are going to like this,” said Debbie Ide, co-owner of Cornerstone Autism Center, 360 Polk St., Greenwood, which provides treatment and therapy for about 30 children ages 2-16.
“It will be a place with lots of texture and things to explore, with sensory panels and a sensory garden,” Ide said. “It’s just going to be a safe and beautiful place.”
Ide said the park will likely have places for kids to climb, swing and explore. There could be handles to crank, buttons to push and other cause-and-effect toys. It might feature free mazes, puzzles or an oversized tic-tac-toe board. There also could be a sensory garden featuring plants chosen for fragrance or texture.
The playground is part of a $500,000 project to rebuild the site of the old municipal pool, 415 Lincoln St. Officials shut it down about a year ago for failing concrete and other safety reasons. The city is replacing it with a new splash pad with sprinklers, misting posts and water jets.
The city will spend about $300,000 using money from a tax-increment financing district. The remainder will come from private donations.
The number of children with autism continues to rise in America and affects about 1 in 88 kids nationwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Demand for services, care and advice also is increasing.
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