{"id":24322,"date":"2024-02-28T11:21:16","date_gmt":"2024-02-28T17:21:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.landuum.com\/?p=24322"},"modified":"2024-02-28T13:22:38","modified_gmt":"2024-02-28T19:22:38","slug":"a-park-for-everyone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.landuum.com\/en\/history-and-culture\/a-park-for-everyone\/","title":{"rendered":"A park for everyone"},"content":{"rendered":"

Join us in discovering the transformation of the park that successfully implemented universal access in many ways thanks to political will, in the article <\/span><\/i>“A Park for All ” <\/i><\/b>by <\/span><\/em>Sandra Esparza.<\/span><\/i>
\n<\/p>\n

In 2012<\/b>, a visit to the Central Park of San Juan, Ecuador<\/a>, revealed that <\/span>people with <\/b>disabilities could not enter due to multiple barriers.<\/b> To develop an inclusive park, the mayor (a wheelchair user) was invited to take a tour to personally see the barriers.<\/span><\/p>\n

45-centimeter-high curbs and steps were the first obstacles that <\/b>blocked <\/b>his entry<\/b>, an experience that motivated him to accept the <\/span>proposal to make the park accessible.<\/b><\/p>\n

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Without universal access.
Photography: Freepik<\/p><\/div>\n

It was necessary to visit the area multiple times, at various hours in order to gather opinions from locals with and without disabilities<\/a><\/b>, observe the activities and limited attractions within the park and its surroundings, and photograph <\/span>every detail to collect information for analysis and to develop a design according to the community’s needs.<\/b><\/p>\n

With the diagnosis, <\/span>sign language and Braille knowledge exercises were developed<\/b> to raise awareness among the population and authorities, which revealed the need to <\/span>incorporate informative materials<\/b>, in consequence, <\/span>pla<\/b>ques of basic signs of sign language, the Braille alphabet<\/a> and guide stripes<\/b> were placed so that people with visual and hearing disabilities can easily reach all areas and each piece of furniture, <\/span>achieving an accessible and inclusive design.<\/b><\/p>\n

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Podotactile soil.
Photography: Freepik<\/p><\/div>\n

The leveling of sidewalks and su<\/a><\/b>rrounding streets achieves accessible entrances for wheelchair users, those with canes and crutches<\/b>, for women pushing strollers or carrying children in their arms, and for the elderly.<\/span><\/p>\n

The delimiting walls around the perimeter and with different heights serve as benches for resting, socializing, taking ownership of the space, and inadvertently becoming guardians of the park.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Ecuador’s accessible park.
Photography: Puntodis<\/p><\/div>\n

The information map, available in Spanish, Braille, and QR with audio<\/b> located at the main entrance, <\/span>was designed for the visually impaired<\/b>, but it is of great benefit to everyone.<\/span><\/p>\n

The benches have central armrests and enough s<\/b>pace on either sides for the wheelchair user to transfer independently<\/b>, also for parking strollers, walkers or suitcases without interrupting the passage of other visitors.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Current benchs.
Photography: Sandra Esparza<\/p><\/div>\n

The water fountains, with three levels<\/b>, are accessible <\/span>for wheelchair users, individuals of short stature, children and even pets. Playground equipment and exercise machines<\/a> are also inclusive. <\/span>All the areas serve for resting and reading, they have scented bushes that guide blind people.<\/b><\/p>\n

The tree roots have grown deeper to prevent pavement uplift, and their wide canopies with evergreen leaves deter insects while providing ample shade. <\/span>Some trees are conveniently accessible for visitors to enjoy their fruits and serve as landmarks for orientation.<\/b><\/p>\n

The snack kiosk is accessible to people<\/b> with physical, visual, hearing, short stature <\/span>disabilities, children and everyone <\/span>in general.<\/b><\/p>\n

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Wheelchair in public space.
Photography: freepik-jcomp<\/p><\/div>\n

Family restrooms with diaper-changing facilities are accessible and inclusive. <\/b>The lights are strategically placed to improve visibility and safety. Additionally, <\/span>water fountains have been installed to provide guidance for all visitors<\/b>, including those who are visually impaired.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thanks to the mayor’s commitment to renovation, <\/span>the neighborhood was improved<\/b>, property values in the area increased, <\/span>as well as the self-esteem of all individuals<\/b>. In addition, <\/span>the environment became healthier<\/b> and the park was transformed into a place for social and commercial activities.<\/span><\/p>\n

All of the abov<\/span>e demonstrates that these <\/span>complex realities and issues can<\/b> be changed in <\/b>different sectors if there is the political will<\/b>, commitment of the professionals involved <\/span>in the construction of public spaces<\/a> and of the users.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thanks to the mayor’s commitment to remodeling, the park became a place for developing social and commercial activities accessible to everyone, improving the environment and people’s self-esteem.<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Friends in a park.
Photography: Freepik<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Join us in discovering the transformation of the park that successfully implemented universal access in many ways thanks to political will, in the article “A Park for All ” by Sandra Esparza.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":269,"featured_media":24305,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[69],"tags":[1830,29,1393,1832,1571,1829,1572,1826,243,542,636,281,639,1667,1396,1695,1827,1833,1831,1563,1828],"class_list":["post-24322","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-history-and-culture","tag-all-users","tag-architecture","tag-arquitectura-del-paisaje-en","tag-ecuador-en","tag-ed-29-landscaping-and-universal-access","tag-hearing-limitation","tag-inclusion-en","tag-inclusive-park","tag-landscape","tag-landscape-architecture","tag-landscaping","tag-landuum-2","tag-magazine","tag-motor-limitation","tag-paisajismo-en","tag-park","tag-park-with-universal-access","tag-san-juan-en","tag-san-park-inclusive-san-juan","tag-universal-access","tag-visual-limitations"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t