Inclusive Playgrounds
Variety believes that playgrounds should be thrilling for all children! In 2014, Variety provided the City of Des Moines with its first inclusive playground, the Ashley Okland Variety Star Playground, in memory of Young Variety Board Member, Ashley Okland. Providing a playground for children of all abilities to play together helps promote play, healthy physical activity, and learning for all children. Outdoor play experiences provide the perfect opportunity to support inclusive play by creating awareness, breaking down barriers and fostering friendships.
Based on the positive feedback and the success of the Ashley Okland Variety Star Playground, Variety recognized the need and desire for all-inclusive playgrounds in other Iowa communities. Variety is working to bring the Star Playground concept to additional communities throughout the state.
For more information on Variety Star Playgrounds and how you can help, please contact Executive Director Sheri McMichael.
Donate NowAshley Okland Variety Star Playground at Ewing Park (Des Moines)
In 2014, Variety provided the City of Des Moines with its first all-inclusive playground, the Ashley Okland Variety Star Playground. Variety’s flagship playground is located within Ewing Park on the southeast side of Des Moines and has become a destination playground. A visit to the Ashley Okland Variety Star Playground is an adventure for the whole family to enjoy. It features many different play elements and is designed for children of all ages and abilities to enjoy.
Variety Star Playground at Noelridge Park (Cedar Rapids)
A $475,000 capital campaign to provide a 9,600 square foot all-inclusive Variety Star Playground at Noelridge Park on the Northeast side of Cedar Rapids was completed in the spring of 2017. Variety broke ground on Cedar Rapids' first all-inclusive playground in May and opened the Variety Star Playground to a large crowd in October.
Variety Star Playground at Riverview Park (Des Moines)
The Variety Star Playground at Riverview Park in Des Moines is Variety’s third inclusive playground in Iowa. This 14,500 square foot playground, Variety’s largest to date, pays homage to the Riverview Amusement Park that resided in this location from 1915 to 1978. The playground equipment was modeled after former Riverview amusement rides like the Wild Mouse, and features Ferris wheel-shaped climbing bars and a miniature funhouse. The Variety Star Playground at Riverview Park addresses the needs of every child and encourages children, adults, and families to experience the benefits of play together. The playground features three distinct areas with equipment that are age-appropriate for children 6-23 months, 2-5 years and 6-12 years old.
Some of the inclusive amenities that the playground offers include: rubberized safety surface that improves accessibility and softens falls, swings with adaptive seats and harnesses that provide additional support, ramps throughout the playground so children who use mobility devices can access all of the features, large flat swings with rubber bumpers that allow children with sensory disorders to lay across them and enjoy the calming to-and-fro motion, a merry-go-round with high backed seats and transfer points from a wheelchair or a walker, two zip lines - one with a molded bucket seat and a snap-in-place harness.
Coming Soon! Ashley Okland Variety Star Playground at the Clive Greenbelt
Variety broke ground on the newest Ashley Okland Variety Star Playground at the Clive Greenbelt in Fall of 2024.
The playground will be ramped for accessibility, have a poured-in-place rubber surface, and will provide opportunities for children and adults of all abilities to interact together through play. The playground will include shade canopies, play structures to promote core strength, harnessed swings, a saucer swing allowing children to lay flat to experience the sensation of swinging, musical play instruments, and other additional features.
Coming Soon! Variety STAR Playground at the Iowa State Fair
Dedicated to offering something for everyone, Variety will work with the Iowa State Fair to update the current Fun Forest play area to be accessible for all. This new playground will allow children and adults of all abilities to enjoy playing together, creating an environment that encourages connection and fun. During the Fair, the Fun Forest is a haven where parents can relax while kids explore beyond the stroller. But the playground isn’t just for August – it’s a year-round destination for families, especially those on Des Moines' east side.
Designed to inspire outdoor play and creativity, the new playground will have an agricultural theme with farm animals, complete with accessible ramp and smooth, easy-to-navigate surface. It’s a space where children of all abilities can play, encouraging physical activity, imagination, and friendship.