ROCKWALL, TX (Jan. 27, 2015) Rockwall residents will soon see one of its parks become all-accessible, benefiting families and children and those with handicaps or special needs. Yellow Jacket Park, located behind Hobby Lobby off of Yellow Jacket Lane, is set to be transformed into a one-of-a-kind, all-inclusive park with amenities and specifications made to serve those with and without disabilities.
Local firefighter Devon Colbert – who suffered a spinal cord injury in a car accident – and his family approached the Rockwall City Council about the accessibility of some of the parks for handicapped and special needs individuals, saying that the wood mulch material made it difficult for those in wheelchairs to be able to navigate the playgrounds comfortably.
“After Devon’s injury when we went to the park we realized that it just really wasn’t that accessible,” said Devon’s wife, Emily, a mother of two sons, including a four-year-old with sensory needs. “It raised a whole perspective, not just for our family but for everybody. I told Devon if we’re having this issue, think about all the other families and people who have children with disabilities and other children who don’t have disabilities, and so the idea just kind of grew from there.”
The idea stuck with the council, who believed having a completely inclusive, barrier-free park would also benefit many special needs children within the community, and several of the parents of children with autism, Down syndrome and other wheelchair-bound disabilities showed their full support for the park during a public input meeting in early December. On Dec. 16, the council unanimously approved the project and is shooting for a completion date as early as March 2015.
“There’s a lot more people with wheelchair-bound disabilities than we realize,” Devon said. “For parents and kids with those disabilities to be able to have an area that they can play together and not have to worry about sitting on the sidelines is going to be great.”
Replacing the wood mulch material is Poured In Place (PIP) Rubber, one of the best playground surfacing options available forADA accessibility. Other amenities include a large, rocking glider available to kids of all needs and abilities, climbers that kids with the use of only their upper bodies can climb into, and a Cozy Cocoon which kids with autism disorders will particularly enjoy.
According to Rockwall Parks and Recreation Manager Andy Hesser, Yellow Jacket Park was chosen to be the site of the project due to it already having some parking and restroom access. Hesser said the playground feature will be installed in between the three existing baseball fields and include lots of shade for those hot Texas summers.
“Honestly, I’m very excited about it,” Devon said. “To have a park that I can actually be able to get around with my boys is going to be awesome.”
By Blue Ribbon News reporter Austin Wells. Family photo copyright Robin Sherman Photography, used with permission in Blue Ribbon News. Rendering courtesy of Rockwall Parks and Rec, for publication in Blue Ribbon News.
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