Children laughing, someone saying “tag you’re it,” a child racing after their friend using a wheelchair and a non-verbal communicator utilizing the Symbol Communication Sign to indicate to a friend that they want to swing. This is what you’ll see at Katherine Rose Memorial Park in Mansfield, Texas. Whether it’s chasing friends in a game of tag, soaring high on a swing or navigating climbers as if the floor were lava, children build social connections, develop motor skills and begin discovering who they are—taking risks, testing limits and exploring new roles along the way.
This play space design features a custom squirrel climber, fully ramped nature-themed playstructures for kids ages 5 to 12 as well as an inclusive playground for toddlers and preschoolers. Additionally, there are opportunities for swinging, rocking and gliding to unite all individuals of all ages and abilities in one dream space together.
Clinically, my students and I speak a lot about their brains and how they have the ability to learn. We were talking about this concept one day and my student said, “Ms. Ariel, I must have a big brain because I learned about the weather today.” The student had the proudest look on their face and the biggest sense of accomplishment emanating from them. This “big brain energy” is something we can create through our environmental design.
Katherine Rose Memorial Park achieves this through the incorporation of panels and varied routes throughout the playground structures. The design has a multitude of panels that target cause and effect, imaginative play and problem solving. For example, cause-and-effect play can be achieved through engagement in the Rain Sound Wheel Panel™. As a child spins the dial, they are auditorily hearing a rain sound and determining that the sound is the effect of spinning the wheel. We additionally see cause and effect through activation of the Optigear Panel®. As the child spins the knob, they visually watch the cogs turn and connect in different ways, learning more about their actions having direct effects. Through the incorporation of the Navigator Panel, we are encouraging children to envision themselves taking on a new role of maybe a race car driver or pilot.
The design invites children into a world of imagination like wandering through a forest waiting to be explored.
“Every design choice was intentional—from the squirrel that playfully links to the inclusive playstructure, to the ramping that carries kids up to a 72-inch deck and Sensory Tunnel,” explained Allison Koeckeritz, senior custom designer at Landscape Structures. “By blending functional inclusivity with nature-inspired details like leaf roofs, epoxy railings and a clatter bridge, we created a space that feels adventurous yet welcoming to all.”
The play space designed for older kids features a fully ramped playstructure with playground towers, plus a custom-designed squirrel playstructure that is play-functionally linked to the main structure. These structures feature a multitude of pathways to enter, exit and navigate through the playground by utilizing different ramps, climbers, tunnels and slides integrated throughout. This encourages children to explore and think about how to navigate through the structure to achieve their end goal.
“From the very beginning, our goal was to make the entire space playable,” said Tory Roff, principal designer at Landscape Structures. “We designed multiple entry points—at least four ways into the custom squirrel structure—so kids can choose their own adventure. Every element, from the LSI Flexx™ netting to the rolling topography, was intentionally activated to invite exploration and discovery.”
By providing choice and opportunities to problem solve throughout the playground structures, we’re encouraging children to learn and gain confidence— leading them to that “big brain energy.”
These days, I have found myself in some pretty intense games of the floor is lava, tag, and red light, green light. In these games, I encourage kids to dial into how their body is feeling and working—a little “happy heart check.” The phrase comes from one of my undergrad professors, a fellow runner, who described their time on the trails as “getting their happy heart pumping.” I’ve carried that language into my work because a lot of children I see are learning how to move their body through space and take on tough physical challenges. When things get hard, we come back to our happy heart pumping to remind us that our brain and body are working together, cheering us on as we do the work.
Katherine Rose Memorial Park provides a multitude of opportunities for children to target bilateral coordination or our ability to use the left and right side together, upper body and lower body strengthening, core strength, balance, and praxis or our ability to identify, plan, execute, and adapt our movements to get our happy heart pumping. Starting with physical access. Playground components such as the OmniSpin® Spinner and Sway Fun® Glider provide access to users who utilize wheelchairs, crutches or walkers, making it easy for them to transfer onto the playground spinner or navigate onto the Sway Fun directly with their device. The Sway Fun provides a lot of user autonomy and choice as they can utilize the table in the middle to rock it back and forth. Another powerful example of inclusive design that champions both autonomy and physical access is the We-Go-Swing®. This inclusive swing invites children using mobility devices to enter without barriers, and experience the thrill of soaring back and forth.
“The park is about giving every child the chance to reach new heights—literally,” said Allison. “With We-Go® products, a Sway Fun® glider, and a treehouse-like environment anchored by the playful squirrel, kids of all abilities can explore, connect and immerse themselves in a story-driven play space that’s as inclusive as it is imaginative.”
The tower playstructure included within the space designed for kids ages 5 to 12 as well as the structure designed for 2- to 5-year-olds, provides ramped access to panels, slides and sensory opportunities. The playstructure for older kids provides additional physical opportunities through the incorporation of belting at the center of the structure that children who are still developing upper and lower body strength, core strength, and balance can navigate and find success as well as continue to grow those skills. The Quantis® 8.2 combines dynamic climbers, belting and netting to create an ever-changing play experience. As kids climb, swing and balance, the shifting elements respond to their movements—and to the presence of others—challenging them to adapt and refine their motor skills in real time. With the various climbers and ramped opportunities, children are sure to have their happy hearts pumping while attending Katherine Rose Memorial Park.
Encouraging opportunities for children to engage in a variety of sensory experiences as well as creating spaces for retreat establishes a strong foundation for sensory health and wellness. Growing up, my older brother with Autism often became overwhelmed within a sensory competitive environment. Because of that, my family and I didn’t go to a lot of parks or playgrounds. The parks near our house offered little variety in sensory experiences and rarely included areas to step back and find calm. Fast forward 20 years, and I see the same concern for many parents of clients I see clinically today.
Katherine Rose Memorial Park’s design encourages sensory exploration as well as having spaces for children to re-regulate. The incorporation of the Cozy Dome® encourages children to take a shaded break that reduces visual and auditory input while not having to navigate too far from the main structure. The underdeck space includes two pods that allow children to sit and rock back and forth, encouraging regulation and taking a break.
Kids also find regulation through their vestibular system, the part of our body that contributes to balance and sensing where our body is in relation to gravity. In this design, the vestibular system is challenged through swinging, sliding, and rocking back and forth. There are a variety of playground swings including the belt seat and Molded Bucket Seat so that kids of all ages and abilities can participate in this classic playground experience. Additionally, group swinging is available with the Oodle® Swing. Rocking on the DigiRiders® and the Sway Fun Glider or spinning on the Curva® and Saddle Spinners provides even more ways for kids to activate their vestibular systems and build balance through play.
While the previously mentioned climbers create opportunities for gross motor skill acquisition, these are a powerful source for providing proprioceptive input. Our proprioceptive input, or input to our muscles and joints, gives us an idea of where our body is in space in relation to others as well as how much force to use when we’re pushing and pulling on objects such as door handles. Creating diversity in sensory experiences, similar to ones found at Katherine Rose Memorial Park, provides opportunities for families to be able to stay and connect within a space that meets their sensory needs.
Children are naturally curious and want to connect with others. In my clinical work, I often find myself answering endless questions—about the world and myself. I always say the kids I see clinically know me the best. So what does that sense of connection look like on the playground? It shows up in intentional design. As spaces that encourage visual connection or opportunities to work together toward a common goal.
Katherine Rose Memorial Park has done this by incorporating cooperative play elements like the We-saw™, Sway Fun Glider and We-Go-Swing, which additionally allow for visual connection. You also see this in action with the Symbol Communication Board, which gives nonverbal communicators a way to connect and lead the play scheme with their friends. It’s also present on the main playground structures where kids naturally practice flexible thinking and turn-taking as they navigate challenges side by side.
“The design goes beyond equipment—it tells a story,” explained Tory. “Playable acorns encourage imaginative play, a hidden squirrel hunt adds an educational layer and the tree becomes a central character in the narrative. These details transform the playground into more than just a place to play; it’s an environment that encourages curiosity, creativity and connection.”
A child’s main occupation is to play. One of the best environments for this to occur is the playground. Through its inclusive design, Katherine Rose Memorial Park allows all children to grow physically, cognitively and social-emotionally. When playground components are designed for both access and challenge, they open the door for all children to explore their senses, spark that “big brain energy,” and build connections with others while enjoying the space together.
That vision of opportunity extends beyond children. The City of Mansfield imagined a destination where play could be a shared experience across generations—welcoming parents, grandparents, caregivers and community members alongside kids.
“The playground grew out of our vision for everyone (multi-generational) to be included,” said James Fish, ASLA, Park Planning Manager. “We wanted something unique for Mansfield's most beloved park and are always pushing the envelope to create truly remarkable places and experiences.”
By blending inclusive design with multigenerational connection, Katherine Rose Memorial Park has become more than a playground. It’s a landmark space where discovery, belonging and joy are experiences everyone can share.