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Gillette Children’s Hospital hopes to inspire others to help build play spaces for children of all abilities. They’ll hold a “day of play” Saturday to show how an inclusive playground makes a difference for children and their families.

The St. Paul hospital and other organizations pushed for legislation that led to more than $4 million in state support for the design and construction of inclusive playgrounds in the Twin Cities metro, in Fridley, Apple Valley and St. Paul.

Almost two years ago, the hospital opened an indoor child’s oasis equipped with a wheelchair-accessible treehouse, swings with seat belts and a music chime you play by touching squares on the floor. 

Matt Witham, Gillette’s director of family and child services said the playground allows children of all abilities to have good play time while they’re at the hospital. There’s a therapeutic side, too.

“I think we all know that growth, development and health and healing come through an ability to stretch boundaries in really healthy ways, and then try to figure out, what do I do in response to that?” Witham said.

Inclusivity in play areas is an issue that’s especially important to the mother of a child who uses a wheelchair. Claudia Swett said before her family got an inclusive playground in their Woodbury neighborhood, it was hard to watch her kid be isolated from other children.

“Usually he would be in his chair,” Swett said. “There was a swing, but it didn’t have any belts. So he just would be on the ground, like playing with a bucket, or just in his chair. But you can do that for so long.”

Swett said having inclusive play equipment has brought her family together and makes her son feel like he’s a part of play time.

The hospital encourages families to advocate for inclusive playgrounds in their area. They’ve also created a map that shows inclusive playgrounds across the state and hopes people get out and play this summer.

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Kyra Miles

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The St. Paul hospital hopes to inspire others to help build recreational spaces for all with a “day of play” at its inclusive playground.

Kerem Yücel | MPR News

Gillette Children's inclusive playground is seen

Two person draw with chalk on a blackboard

Gillette Children’s promotes play for kids of all abilities

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