Friendship Learning Center Playground One Of The Best In The Country

The Friendship Learning Center Playground in North Fond du Lac has received national recognition as one of the best inclusive playgrounds in the country.

The study, by school and healthcare staffing company Soliant, looked at playgrounds from across the US, considering factors including their use of inclusive playground design, quality and quantity of accessible play features and any unique stories behind the playground’s origin.

Bringing an environment that helps everyone find the best of themselves through play was an important pillar of the North Fond du Lac School District’s playground project, according to BCI Burke, the Fond du Lac playground manufacturing company that designed the project.

Valuing the importance of equitable access points in an inclusive space, the playground was designed to have an entire side flush to the surfacing, making a seamless transition into the play space. Play equipment ranges from “spinners” with three different seating options to adapt to a variety of abilities to spaces for musical exploration, swinging, sliding, climbing, and developing upper body strength.

Soliant Senior Vice President of Education Lesley Slaughter commented: “We praise their commitment to ensuring all students—children of various abilities, ages, and backgrounds—have an equal opportunity to play, learn, and develop alongside one another.”

You can see a list of the top 10 playgrounds here as well as the research that went into each facility.