Ashley's Playground

Officials honor girl who inspired accessible system

MOSES LAKE — Wed-nesday's name dedication at the all-inclusive playground at McCosh Park was a special occasion for the little girl who spurred community and city leaders to bring the accessible play system to Moses Lake, but it wasn't news to 5-year-old Ashley Dieringer. She already knew the playground where she can freely stroll along with her walker is hers.

"It's an honor," said Christi Dieringer of having the playground named after her daughter, who, she added, already called it "Ashley's Playground" before Wednesday's ceremonies.

As it turns out, so did everybody else.

Roland Gonzales, the city's parks superintendent who oversaw the installation of the playground, said naming the park after Ashley was always in the plans, but needed the approval of the Noon Rotary Club of Moses Lake, which chose the playground as their centennial project last year and contributed about $65,000 to build it.

"It's something that's touched us all and we feel good about it," said Gonzales.

Gonzales was joined by city councilmen Dick Deane and Jon Lane and lots of parents and children to celebrate the playground's name dedication. Also on hand was Don Garrett, the park maintenance staff member who designed the sign which now includes a purple banner reading Ashley's Playground.

The park opened last November and features ramps that make it easy for children with disabilities to move on, even with wheelchairs and walkers. The facility has a base floor made of poured-in-place rubber surfacing which is both spongey soft and easy to maneuver on. Kids can pretend to drive the built-in fire truck, slip down the slides or test out the wall climbing system.

The city will be adding more equipment soon, including a plastic hippopotamus and caterpillar and a swing set that is ADA approved. Those installations are expected to be complete by spring.

"They have a place that they can come," said Jamie Camp, Ashley's former preschool teacher, of Ashley's Playground. Camp said that as a special education teacher, she's seen the difficulties kids like Ashley encounter when trying to use standard playground equipment. In addition to safety concerns, Camp said those children also need to experience the independence of doing things on their own and the social benefits of playing with other kids.

Because of Ashley's Playground, all children can play together, regardless of physical condition.

"It's our most popular playground," Gonzales said. "There's no limitations here."