Background 

A great playground ties people and communities together. Located in the High Point Athletic Complex, the new universally designed Miracle League playground does just that. If you are unfamiliar with the Miracle League, it is an organization that runs modified baseball games for individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities. Each game is as much about connection as it is recreation; participants are partnered with buddies from the local community who encourage and support each participant throughout the game. 

In High Point, this program is organized by the ASPIRE team, which is part of the greater parks and recreation department and focuses on Adaptive Sports, Programs & Inclusive Recreation. The Miracle League’s inaugural season was in 2009, with 4 teams and 42 players. Since then, the Miracle League has grown to 10 teams and 150 participants, with players participating in a spring and fall season

The playground is part of the park that brings families from the Miracle League and families from the other athletic fields together after their respective games and over the weekend. 

The Design Process 

Revitalizing the playspace had been on the minds of Lee Tillery, High Point Parks & Recreation Director, and the Parks Department for several years, as the previous playground had become difficult to maintain, exacerbated by surfacing issues. When the planning process began, it became a collective effort brainstorming what the new space would look like. Catalogs were exchanged between the ASPIRE team and the department, selecting pieces of equipment that would serve the community. Project lead John Barrs used feedback from the ASPIRE team and the broader Parks and Recreation Department to inform the Burke design team. After several revisions, the final design was solidified. 

The Equipment 

While the bright and contrasting colors do provide a level of visual detail and interest, they are also thoughtfully chosen. The bright orange and purple were taken from the Miracle League's logo, while the grey base brings tranquility to the space. The ASPIRE team brought a philosophy similar to the Miracle League's approach to baseball, with the goal of removing barriers to play. This was done by designing a ramped structure, full of sensory rails, play panels, and motion pieces. A roller slide is added, perfect for users with cochlear implants, as it does not create damaging static. Freestanding pieces like the MOVMNT, Nido Spinner, Orbit spinner, and music pieces bring the play to everyone, including family members. This design is tied together with artificial turf that is mobility device and cleat-friendly for the other athletic fields on site.  

The playground was completed in full by the end of February, ready for an exciting season ahead!