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All-In for Accessibility: Inclusive Play at Hidden Creek Park West

Private donors helped the park come to life

Post Date:07/16/2023

HCPW-Map The City of Hillsboro Parks & Recreation Department is creating play equity thanks in part to community support.

Meet Oro! Hidden Creek Park West is Now Open

This summer, Hillsboro Parks & Recreation will open its first fully inclusive park and playground at Hidden Creek Park West funded with more than $500,000 in private donations from local families, companies, and nonprofits all with the goal of creating a place where Hillsboro Plays Together.

While every park in Hillsboro meets the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, that is the bare minimum when it comes to inclusion. There can still be barriers to access that prevent children who experience cognitive, emotional, sensory, or physical disability from fully engaging with play elements.

Inclusive playgrounds go beyond ADA compliance to encourage interaction and creative play for everyone.

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The new inclusive playground at Hidden Creek Park West will be home to Oro, the Friendly Forest Giant, and feature inclusive play elements that will be accessible for children of all abilities. The playground was designed by a nationally renowned inclusive play expert who has a reputation for cost effective, adaptable, and long-lasting solutions that are elegant and practical.

Inclusive-Play With the specialized equipment and safety components, inclusive playgrounds are often two to five times more expensive than standard playgrounds. Hidden Creek Park West will feature accessible surfacing, fencing, restrooms, parking spaces, additional shade structures, and other intentional design elements that break down barriers to play.

Private donors with gifts ranging from $50 to $250,000 helped this project come to life. The new playground will serve the entire Hillsboro community but especially more than 2,800 local children who experience disability.

Also, it will be a convenient location for families who will reside at Nueva Esperanza, the new 150-unit affordable housing complex being built by Bienestar across the street.

In addition to the new inclusive playground, Hillsboro Parks & Recreation is committed to offering accessible recreation programming across the department, especially at Hidden Creek Community Center which is at the center of the City’s Adaptive and Inclusive Recreation offerings.

When complete, the playground will be the heart of a new 11‑acre park. It will function as an extension of Hidden Creek Community Center by bringing families, friends, and neighbors together in a place that is accessible, inclusive, and affordable.