Jacob Kuehn, 4 (center), along with his mom, Julie Kuehn, and sisters Haylie Kuehn (left) and Natalie Kuehn (right), cut the ribbon at the re-opening of Seaview Park’s playground Wednesday in Edmonds. The park was recently renovated to become an accessible playground where children with varying physical and cognitive abilities can play together safely. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Jacob Kuehn, 4 (center), along with his mom, Julie Kuehn, and sisters Haylie Kuehn (left) and Natalie Kuehn (right), cut the ribbon at the re-opening of Seaview Park’s playground Wednesday in Edmonds. The park was recently renovated to become an accessible playground where children with varying physical and cognitive abilities can play together safely. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Edmonds boy with cerebral palsy inspires inclusive playground

Seaview Park’s new equipment includes an adaptive swing, disc swing and cushioned fall surface.

EDMONDS — When the Kuehn family used to head to the playground, it usually meant a drive to Bothell or Bellevue, even though they lived near Seaview Park in Edmonds.

“We didn’t really go to the park and it was sad,” said Julie Kuehn.

Her son, Jacob, 4, has cerebral palsy, which affects his balance and mobility. Seaview, like many area parks, and especially playgrounds, was only nominally accessible to him. Wood chips and other materials used for fall surfaces at many made it difficult to maneuver the wheels of his walker and sometimes unsteady legs. Nor could Julie carry him like she had when he was younger and smaller.

“He’s such a happy kid all the time that I think I underestimated how sad it made him not to be able to play.”

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

On Wednesday, Jacob darted around the climbing dome, play fort, spinning wheel and swing set at Seaview, playing tag with several other children, none of whom were asking about his walker.

Children chasing each other in a cacophony of joyous giggling, laughing and squealing was the picture-perfect example of why the City of Edmonds installed new inclusive-style equipment at Seaview, said Kuehn, who was among a few dozen people on hand Wednesday for the official opening of the renovated playground at 8030 185th Street SW.

“The whole point is for them to play together,” she said.

Violet Jensen, 5, navigates her way across a rope structure at Seaview Park on Wednesday in Edmonds. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Violet Jensen, 5, navigates her way across a rope structure at Seaview Park on Wednesday in Edmonds. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

The new playground includes a cushioned fall surface, two swing sets with a total of seven seats — including an adaptive swing, a disc swing and a toddler bucket — a spinning cone that could provide a bit of shelter for someone struggling with sensory issues, and a ground-level “store” that’s already doubled as a lemonade stand beneath the fort.

Kuehn said a lot of people came together to make it happen. They wanted to create of place where children played together, regardless of any cognitive or physical differences.

“It’s very heartwarming,” Kuehn said.

Mike Nelson, a city councilman and candidate for mayor, said the Kuehn family inspired him to seek funding for the project. Prior to setting the city’s budget for 2019, he posted a question on social media about the city’s parks. Julie Kuehn responded, saying she wondered where to take her son, whose mobility needs excluded many play spaces.

Nelson encouraged her to seek the changes she wanted from the city council. So she and Jacob attended a meeting, where the council saw some of his mobility issues.

The council supported funding the playground, which was already in line for renovation.

Reece Escalona, 5, smiles while enjoying one of the new accessible swings at the re-opening of Seaview Park’s playground Wednesday in Edmonds. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Reece Escalona, 5, smiles while enjoying one of the new accessible swings at the re-opening of Seaview Park’s playground Wednesday in Edmonds. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Edmonds City Councilwoman Adrienne Fraley-Monillas was at the playground’s opening with her 27-year-old son, whose developmental disability often kept him from parks because of concerns about his balance. On Wednesday, he happily snapped a selfie from one of the new swings.

“I could never have allowed him to play on the stuff (before),” she said, referring to previous designs that had the playground equipment installed over concrete.

Carrie Hite, Edmonds parks director, said Seaview Park’s play equipment cost $120,000 and the cushioned surface $90,000. Getting the space graded and everything installed — a fence replaced the seat wall that separated the play area from a steep hill popular for sledding, but dangerous for unexpected tumbling — took parks crews about three weeks.

In 2017, there were 132,900 people categorized as blind and disabled in Washington who received benefits from the Social Security Administration. Of those, 10,155 resided in Snohomish County, including 1,145 children under age 18.

Inclusive play is a concept that is gaining more attention, City of Everett spokeswoman Kari Goepfert said. It appears to be the new norm as parks departments and districts build and renovate their play areas.

Children climb on the new rope structure at the re-opening of Seaview Park’s playground Wednesday in Edmonds. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Children climb on the new rope structure at the re-opening of Seaview Park’s playground Wednesday in Edmonds. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Public-funded park playgrounds are required to be accessible under the Americans with Disabilities Act, referred to as ADA. Since 2010, Goepfert said, playground equipment and facilities that are built or renovated must adhere to the ADA Standards for Accessible Design. In Everett, there are six park playgrounds with rubber tile surfaces that provide easier access to the equipment. Forest, Garfield, Legion and Lions parks have inclusive equipment, such as adaptive swings.

Miner’s Corner in Bothell was Snohomish County’s first 100-percent universally accessible park. And the county recently installed a new dock with a mobility ramp into the water at Wenberg County Park near Stanwood.

In Edmonds, with children playing on every slide, swing, tunnel and wheel, Mike Nelson said the city was proud to surpass accessibility minimums and fund inclusive design.

“This takes us closer to the ideal,” he said. “The idea is that everybody’s interacting together.”

Julie Kuehn said her greatest hope is that such spaces make people more familiar with others’ differences.

“If they are experiencing this when they’re young, it makes them more empathetic adults,” she said.

Jacob was busy playing and unable to be caught up with for an interview.

Ben Watanabe: bwatanabe@heraldnet.com; 425-339-3037; Twitter @benwatanabe.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Cars drive along Cathcart Way next to the site of the proposed Eastview Village development that borders Little Cedars Elementary on Wednesday, May 7, 2025 in unincorporated Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Former engineer: Snohomish County rushed plans for Eastview development

David Irwin cited red flags from the developers. After he resigned, the county approved the development that’s now stalled with an appeal

Outside of the Madrona School on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Sewer district notifies Edmonds schools of intent to sue

The letter of intent alleges the school district has failed to address long-standing “water pollution issues” at Madrona K-8 School.

Everett
Man stabbed in face outside Everett IHOP, may lose eye

Police say the suspect fled in the victim’s car, leading officers on a 6-mile chase before his arrest.

A person walks up 20th Street Southeast to look at the damage that closed the road on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
WA delegation urges Trump to reconsider request for bomb cyclone aid

The Washington state congressional delegation urged President Donald Trump on… Continue reading

Aaron Weinstock uses an x-ray machine toy inside the Imagine Children Museum on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Imagine Children’s Museum $250k grant reinstated following federal court order

The federal grant supports a program that brings free science lessons to children throughout rural Snohomish County.

Snohomish County 911 Executive Director Kurt Mills talks about the improvements made in the new call center space during a tour of the building on Tuesday, May 20, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New 911 center in Everett built to survive disaster

The $67.5 million facility brings all emergency staff under one roof with seismic upgrades, wellness features and space to expand.

Everett
Five arrested in connection with Everett toddler’s 2024 overdose death

More than a year after 13-month-old died, Everett police make arrests in overdose case.

Madison Family Shelter Family Support Specialist Dan Blizard talks about one of the pallet homes on Monday, May 19, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Madison Family Shelter reopens after hiatus

The Pallet shelter village, formerly Faith Family Village, provides housing for up to eight families for 90 days.

Brian Murril, who started at Liberty Elementary as a kindergartner in 1963, looks for his yearbook photograph during an open house for the public to walk through the school before its closing on Thursday, May 29, 2025 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Locals say goodbye to Marysville school after 74 years

Liberty Elementary is one of two schools the Marysville School District is closing later this year to save costs.

U.S. Sen. Patty Murray speaks at a round table discussion with multiple Snohomish County agencies about the Trump administrator restricting homelessness assistance funding on Thursday, May 29, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Sen. Murray hears from county homelessness assistance providers

In early May, Snohomish County sued the Trump administration for putting unlawful conditions on $16.7M in grant funding.

Gov. Bob Ferguson, at podium, goes to shake hands with state Sen. Noel Frame, D-Seattle, at the signing of a bill to make clergy mandatory reporters of child abuse and neglect, on May 2, 2025 in Olympia. At center is Mary Dispenza, a founding member of the Catholic Accountability Project. (Photo by Jerry Cornfield/Washington State Standard)
Bishops sue to overturn new WA law requiring clergy to report child abuse

They argue it is unconstitutional to force Catholic priests to divulge information learned in confession.

DNR removes derelict barge from Spencer Island

The removal was done in partnership with state Fish and Wildlife within a broader habitat restoration project.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.