Jackson Park All-Inclusive Playground Design
About the Project
Jackson Park is the largest municipality-owned park in Western North Carolina. Its 200-plus acres are home to ballfields, basketball courts, tennis courts, a disc golf course, hiking trails, tennis courts, the Oklawaha Greenway, a bike skills area, tons of picnic tables, covered picnic shelters, a dog area and more. The previous playground in Jackson Park was removed in 2020 due to safety concerns. RVE provided civil/site engineering, landscape architecture, bidding and construction administration and inspection services for the development, design and construction of the playground site as well as the incorporation of playground equipment design and installation that culminates into the creation of a recreational playground space of approximately 10,000 square feet in Jackson Park. The goal of this project was to provide a comprehensive site design inclusive of all the following elements: grading of playground area, compacted stone base installation, drainage, concrete borders, sidewalks with connections from playground area to existing ADA parking area, restroom facility, picnic shelter, rubberized fall surface, playground, fitness equipment, benches, trash/recycle receptacles and shade structures. As part of the design, RVE worked closely with Henderson County Parks and Recreation staff to develop and implement a design to meet the goals for the project. Additionally, RVE worked with staff to address any public concerns about the project.
Project Gallery
The playground is a collaboration between the Henderson County Board of Commissioners, Henderson County Tourism Development Authority, Pardee UNC Health Care, the Community Foundation of Henderson County, local businesses and privately raised funds.
The state granted $200,000 through the NC State Investment Fund (NCSIF) for playground equipment for the project. A $150,000 tourism grant through the Henderson County Tourism Development Authority is also going toward the playground. The board of commissioners also allocated $400,000 in American Rescue Plan dollars for the project
The result of the project is an All-Inclusive playground that meets and challenges the abilities of children between the ages of two to 12 years old. In addition, fitness equipment design and installation will be appropriate for children ages 13 and older.