A brand-new playground is now open to the public at Bloedel Donovan Park, and its updated design welcomes children of all abilities. The structure features accessible ramps and swings, as well as educational elements that build inclusivity.
While conducting an inventory as part of their Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Plan, Bellingham’s Parks and Recreation department determined that the former playground equipment, built in 1999, was run-down and no longer met park safety or Americans with Disabilities Act standards.
The new playground’s design was decided in 2024 by a community vote on the City of Bellingham’s Engage Bellingham website, where community members can make their voices heard during the development of public works projects. The project’s construction cost $515,000 and was paid for with funds collected from the city’s park impact fees.
“The option that was selected had a ton of play value,” said Patricia Lenssen, owner of Bellingham architecture firm Pacific Landscape Architecture. “That refers to, can you climb, can you swing, can you fiddle with something on the ground, can you hide under a place, can you be in a group, can you be alone? All of these different things.”
Pacific Landscape Architecture helped facilitate the custom-built playground’s transition from design to reality, working with the playground vendor on design adjustments and handling construction permits.
After months of construction, children and families are eager to visit Bloedel Donovan Park again and try out the brand-new play structures. So far, reviews are positive.
“The playground brings some new elements to the community,” said Nathan Robey, a kinesiology professor at Western Washington University, who visited the park with his two young children. “Kids not only have the opportunity to run around on the metal playground, but also log shapes and rock shapes and stacked blocks that give them another unique component to interact with and learn how to move their bodies.”
The new playground features elements including wheelchair-accessible ramps on its largest structure, stacked climbable blocks, four separate slides, a rope climbing area and more.
The ramps are particularly important in terms of ADA accessibility, and mark one of the biggest improvements from the former playground.
“This design is pretty unique in that if you are in a wheelchair, or if you have a stroller, or if you have a walker, you can travel via ADA-accessible ramps all the way to the top of the structure,” said Lenssen. “Often that accessibility is provided through a transfer station, at least it used to be, so you would expect someone to get out of their accessibility device and basically crawl, which is not very accessible in reality.”
Along either side of the ramps, there are a variety of interactive elements, or “events,” that users can engage with, from educational panels to tactile activities. In fact, the playground has double the amount of elevated accessible events required by ADA standards.
“With our consultant, the City selected play events that can be accessed along the accessible route,” wrote Kelsey Thomas, the city’s assistant director of communications and community outreach, in an email. “These events are designed to be accessible to a wide range of people, including those with mobility impairments and vision impairments.”
According to Lenssen, the ramps give more mobility to people with different levels of ability.
“Depending on a person's muscle tone and abilities, they might be able to transfer to a slide or a pole or a climbing structure to get down, even if they can't go up,” Lenssen said.
Some “play panels” on the playground structure feature standard puzzles and activities, while others encourage children to learn the alphabet in Braille or simple phrases in sign language.
“Playgrounds should be places where every child can feel included, have fun, and just be a kid. When we build accessible, ADA-compliant play spaces, we’re making sure all families feel welcome and supported,” wrote Nicole Oliver, the city’s director of parks and recreation, in an email. “We’re excited for the community to enjoy the new playground at Bloedel Donovan!”
Sophia Jellinghaus (she/he/they) is a reporter on The Front's city life beat. A third-year visual journalism major and Spanish minor, this is their first quarter with The Front. When not tracking down sources or coming up with pitches, they like to relax with a video essay and a tall glass of root beer. You can reach them at sophiajellinghaus.thefront@gmail.com.
