Inclusive Playground

By Tommy Noyes

This illustration shows the concept for the new expansion of Kamalani Playground in Lydgate Park with inclusive components.. Contributed graphic

In November 2021, the County of Kaua‘i Department of Parks and Recreation announced construction of the Kamalani Inclusive Playground in Lydgate Beach Park is now in progress with completion projected for Spring 2022.

“Specifically designed for keiki with developmental disabilities, this playground project is among my administration’s top priorities,” Mayor Derek Kawakami said. “Mahalo to the Department of Parks and Recreation, Friends of Kamalani, Leadership Kaua‘i Class of 2022, and everyone involved to make this playground a reality for our children.”

Scott McCubbins enthusiastically endorses the project.

“As a member of the Friends of Kamalani & Lydgate Park (FK-LP) committee, I was thrilled to see this expansion of the playground,” McCubbins said. “It will provide easy access to keiki with disabilities so that they can fully enjoy the park experience in a unique and safe way. Mahalo to all who were involved in the development, engineering, and fiscal responsibility for this project.”

McCubbins serves as one of the Surfrider Foundation Kaua‘i Chapter’s leaders, and coordinates volunteer coastal cleanups. He deserves recognition for Surfriders’ Net Patrols that during 2020 cleared more than 129,000 pounds of marine debris from Kaua‘i’s shoreline.

The new playground design addresses physical, social, emotional, sensory, communication and cognitive activities children with developmental disabilities encounter. Additionally, the playground will include swinging, spinning, sliding, climbing and balancing equipment.

Volunteers Doug Shannon and Tom Worthen are among the most consistent participants at Lydgate’s every-Saturday beach cleanups.

“If it’s ‘specifically designed for keiki with developmental disabilities,’ then I’m all for it. Anything we can do to enhance the lives of disabled kids is great,” Shannon said

Kamalani inclusive playground. Contributed graphic

Worthen allocates community service to both the FK-LP and Kaua‘i’s Sea Scout program, and has personal reasons for appreciating this new public amenity. “My daughter uses a wheelchair. To design a playground that goes beyond breaking physical barriers to also addressing cognitive and emotional development is state of the art. Mahalo to everyone who is supporting this project.”

Valerie Woods, a dedicated volunteer with FK-LP, said she is very excited to see this project started.

“As a member of the Friends of Kamalani and Lydgate Park, I know this playground will give new energy to the Park and generate more enthusiasm from the community to gather here and ‘care’ for this great Park,” Woods said.

Shana Marie Cruz of Leadership Kaua‘i’s class of 2022 said this project is very intimate to her and her family, being they have two special-needs children.

“It is inspirational and breathtaking, that from a vision, a suggestion, and an idea from meeting with the mayor two years ago and now construction will be taking place,” Cruz said. “Leadership Kaua‘i’s class of 2022 is excited to support the development of a project rooted in the community, initiated by the parents of children in search of inclusion and representation of all abilities, and enacted by a government willing to listen.”

Inspired Play LLC is building the $400,000 project, with monies allocated from the General Fund, Capital Improvements Projects Fund, and the Līhu‘e District Special Trust Fund for Parks & Playgrounds Fund.

• Tommy Noyes is Kaua‘i Path’s executive director, a League of American Bicyclists Certified Instructor and active with the Kaua‘i Medical Reserve Corps.