Harmony Inclusive Playground At Gan Yeladim Early Learning Center – Anchorage, AK
Alaska
Â
Project Overview
An inclusive playground designed to create a welcoming space for children of all abilities in a challenging northern climate.
Play Design Features
- Inclusive playground designed for all abilities
- Nature-inspired play elements and forest theming
- Water, Sand, and sensory experiences
- Spinning and movement-based play
- Fully fenced play environment with areas for different age groups
Project Information
To address a long-identified gap in services for young children with special needs, the Gan Yeladim Early Learning Center has proudly completed the state’s first early childhood all inclusive playground. This landmark project introduces Alaska’s inaugural chapter of the global Friendship Circle, a program dedicated to fostering friendships and empathy between children of all abilities.
Learning Landscapes Design created a custom play space that was truly inclusive, meeting the day to day needs of all children in the ECC program. The outdoor playground is a vibrant, sensory-rich, and fully accessible public space. It is designed as a community hub for joy and connection, open to all families at no charge. The area features a performance stage, musical zones, fort-building, toddler playhouses, turf hills, climbing walls, animal sculptures, and sensory panels. The facility also provide other amenities including gardens, ADA parking arrival and pathways, restrooms, parent seating and LED lighting. This center transforms a traditional playground into a purposeful environment where the Friendship Circle’s mission comes to life, ensuring every child and family has a place to belong, play, and grow together.
