Park to gain new accessible playground
Ramps, wheelchair-friendly train will be built on Mary’s Park from 5 acres of land
Parks manager Alan Davis, left, and recreation manager Kurt Dahmen discuss project renovations Thursday at the Pullman Pioneer Center.
September 27, 2019
The Pullman Parks and Recreation Commission discussed the construction of a new playground that is accessible for children with disabilities during a meeting Thursday.
The Kiwanis Club donated $25,000 to the City of Pullman to convert the 5 acres of land at Mary’s Park into an inclusive playground.
Alan Davis, park manager for the Pullman Parks and Recreation Department, said the playground will be interactive for children with disabilities. They have already completed a train that is wheelchair accessible.
The equipment on the playground will be raised so that additional padding can be placed underneath for added protection, he said.
Ramps will be incorporated throughout the park from the parking lot directly to the playground, Davis said.
The commission also discussed Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility that has been added to Sunnyside Park. The ramps that have been added run from the parking lot and up throughout the park.
“The ramp that leads up to the shelter and restrooms really dresses up the park,” said Mick Nazerali, Pullman Parks and Recreation Department chairman.
Four new pickleball courts were built at both Sunnyside and Kruegel parks. There have already been requests to the city to add lighting to the courts at both parks, Davis said.
Bishop Avenue will be getting a new look. Davis said donors from DABCO Property Management and various landowners donated $6,000 for yellow daffodil bulbs.
The commission received permission from the landowners because of the sizable amount of land and the low foot traffic on Bishop Avenue, Davis said. They are expecting to receive some of the bulbs in October and the rest in spring.
The welcome sign on Davis Way will get an addition, said Davis. They will be adding a frame near the maps of Pullman and the WSU campus.
The Pullman Parks and Recreation Department is in the process of creating a new website that is more user-friendly, said Kimberly Johnson, Pullman Parks and Recreation Department secretary. They met to go over training on how to navigate the site and upload information on Sept. 17.
She said they are working to make the website able to narrate its content to accommodate people with vision impairments. They also want to make the website accessible for people with hearing impairments.
The website will be available for public use by Oct. 28.
