Sensory Playground Project to Begin

The Wheaton Park District will host a celebration Wednesday to kick off the Sensory Garden and Playground Initiative project, which will serve children with special needs with a universally accessible playground at Danada South Park.

Cindy Keck of the Kiwanis Club of Wheaton proposed the idea more than a year ago as a way to mark the Kiwanis’ 60th anniversary. Keck garnered support from representatives from the Wheaton Park District, Western DuPage Special Recreation Association (WDSRA), Kiwanis and Forest Preserve District of DuPage County to pitch the idea to local agencies serving children with special needs.

Keck, a developmental therapist for young children, said that many of the children she works with have Sensory Processing Disorder—a neurological disorder that causes challenges in processing and responding to sensory information—and are "easily overwhelmed" in loud situations.

"They don't typically do well at normal playgrounds," she said. "I've seen families that choose to even stay home."

The support that's allowing the project to commence is $150,000 in winnings from the Landscape Structures "Together We Play" essay contest.

The grand prize—in a contest that drew applicants from Washington, Elgin, Texas, Canada and Maine—includes $100,000 in playground equipment from Landscape Structures, and $50,000 in project development, design and programming services from Shane’s Inspiration—an organization that helps build universally accessible playgrounds nationwide.

The playground will offer separate play areas that focus on engaging sensory stimulation, including a playground area, a fragrance garden, a water play area, a boulder climb, a bounce area, a music area, an accessible tree house, an accessible baseball field and a shelter and restroom building.

The 40-acre playground, located at Danada South Park at the northeast corner of Naperville Road and Navistar Way, will cost around $1.9 million, according to Rob Sperl, director of facilities at the Wheaton Park District. Equipment costs will range from around $5,000-$8,000 per piece and surfacing costs will be upwards of $120,000, according to the Wheaton Park District website.

The location was chosen because of its low traffic, existing activities, restrooms, utilities, highway access, public transportation access, long-term plans and neighboring uses, Sperl told board members in a June meeting.

He said he predicts the playground will draw families from all over the western suburbs with other attractions nearby, including the DuPage Children’s Museum and the Morton Arboretum. “People could make a day of it … come for free and have a picnic and let their kids play,” he said. 

“It would be just another example of where Wheaton and the Wheaton Park District have led the nation in making accessibility for parks a number one priority.”

The celebration Wednesday, Oct. 19 will precede the at 7 p.m. in the Gamon Room at , 303 Wesley Street, Wheaton.