The playground is between the basketball courts and the perimeter Rick Tollefson trail.
Location
The JUMP! playground is Jefferson County's first fully accessible and inclusive playground, designed to provide play opportunities for all children regardless of ability.
The playground is situated in the center of East Jefferson County at HJ Carroll Park, 9884 SR Hwy 19 (Rhody Drive) Chimacum, WA 98325.
Project Design
The project design goes beyond the minimum accessibility standards to create a play environment that includes everyone and challenges them at their individual level. Inclusive playgrounds are not just for children with physical mobility impairments. They are designed for children with all abilities and varying impairments to engage in play on various levels and with different sensory experiences available to them.
See below to witness the evolution of our project from 2016 until now! We expanded the scope from an accessible playground to an integrative play space with more exploration and communal sitting and picnic areas for entire families to enjoy!
Original JUMP! design from 2016
Working with Nakano Associates, the County expanded our initial vision into a play space that would engage all ages and abilities, while allowing parents, friends and caregivers to sit comfortably while their children explore. As the scope grew, so did the cost. We planned the project to be completed in 2 phases as the expense grew.
JUMP! raised $380,000 toward the $1, 400,000 total project cost. RCO Washington awarded the County $500,000, which enabled Phase 1 to be built. With Covid ARPA relief funds, Jefferson County provided the extra $500,000 that covered the estimated total project costs of $1,400,000 with hopes of building the entire playground upon groundbreaking.
Unfortunately, cost overruns brought us back to the drawing board as the $1,400,000 no longer covered the costs of the entire playground. Most of the playground was built, except for the younger children area which includes a ramped play structure with slides, sensory panels and a wheelchair-accessible glider.
These were the original Phase 1 & 2 plans, that evolved as we raised more money to include more in Phase 1 and decided to add the state’s first accessible Net Climber!
Aerial Photo of Completed Phase 1 - November 2022
Art in the Park:
The playground is enhanced with Public Art from local Artist Rebecca Welti, who created the first Climbing Plankton, designed our Art Entry Gate with local metal worker Gunter Reimnitz, made plankton tiles with school children from all 4 area school districts and Intellectually Disabled adults in the Community and designed the plankton art panels on our accessible merry go round! Local Builder, Chris Axling, and creator of Magical Playhouses built a wooden playhouse to emulate a driftwood structure in keeping with our Salish Sea theme.
Currrent Playground components include:
Gametime GT Wave Climber - First Inclusive net climber in Washington state!
Rope Climbing Structure
Rope climbers allow children the engagement of large muscle groups, coordination and balance with space for multiple children to play together. This particular climber has a transfer bench and rubber climbing platform within the structure that allows non-ambulatory children to get well into the structure and play with their peers. If able to crawl, they can crawl all the way to the slide and slide down. This is the first inclusive net climber available to playgrounds and the first in Washington State.
Slides
A variety of slides that keep kids challenged both physical and mentally is available for all.
Roller slide next to ramped slide structure that includes a spiral and curved slide.
Swings
Fully supportive swings with an Expression Swing that allows parents to swing with their child while facing them.
Expression Swing fun for dad and son.
Disc swing fun for the twins!
Disc swing allowing multiple kids to swing together encouraging interactive play with easy transfer from a wheelchair or walker
Spinners
A fast, fun and exciting freestanding play activity for children of all abilities. The high back molded sensory seat with handles and front pommel design helps children maintain a neutral body position while spinning.
This Spinner Seat was donated by the Lalish-Menagh Family.
Family Enjoying the Spinner Seat at JUMP!
We Go Round with Custom Plankton Art Panels
This accessible merry-go-round allows children in wheelchairs to roll right in and has seats for others so all can enjoy in twirling fun. Click above and watch a video of it in action.
We were able to purchase this with custom Art Panels by Rebecca Welti through a grant with the Christopher & Dana Reeves Foundation.
Family fun at the Xylophone.
Musical Instruments that are accessible to all will enhance the sensory experience and engagement for those children who might be overwhelmed by other aspects of the playground.
Playground signage utilizing a combination of pictures, symbols and words to aid in non-verbal communication.
Latex-free, recycled rubber tiles and playground grass will be the safety surfacing to maximize wheelchair maneuverability and for its antiseptic properties. All of our products are latex-free so that children and adults with latex allergies can happily play.
Ramps and deck structure with guardrails allowing individuals in wheelchairs access to a variety of elevated play components including several slides at various heights.
Play panels and at-grade activities are available so anyone can reach them. Transfer stations with ramps that reach all elevated play activities are part of this design.