This spring we are beginning Phase One of Bennett’s Village construction: an accessible treehouse and trail. In order to support the weight of the structure, we won’t be building directly on a specific tree, but we are going to build around one. We chose the treehouse quite specifically because those with mobility challenges, balance issues, and those who used wheels to get around have fewer opportunities to engage with and be surrounded by trees, and we know that all of us can enjoy the countless positive physical and mental health benefits from spending time in nature.
Designed differently from the beginning.
A treehouse without stairs or a rope ladder? How can this be? There are a few ways we could have done this, but we are building out from the main play space to reach our new treehouse–without ropes or steep angles, all should be able to access the creative fun play space via the back of the current play area.
The treehouse will also be wired with electricity—why? Because when we talk to folks in the disabled community, they have told us how important it is to have equipment and cell phone batteries charged. Bennett’s wheelchair weighed 350 pounds, so when the wheelchair battery died, it was VERY difficult to move. By including electrical plugs in the design, we ensure that the treehouse can support the medical equipment and communication needs of our neighbors, friends, and families.
A walk in the woods.
If you have visited Pen Park on a busy Saturday morning, you know that kids are often playing in the wooded areas near the existing play structures. But that unofficial play space is not accessible to everyone—such as wheelchair users, families with little ones in strollers, those with hip or knee challenges, and others with mobility issues. Bennett’s Village is working with the City of Charlottesville to design a path that can be paved so that everyone can enjoy the benefits of being able to take a walk through the woods, complete with resting spots along the way. We hope one day this accessible trail will connect the play space to the network of Rivanna Trail Foundation trails that surround Charlottesville. Look for trailwork to begin in the second half of 2024.
Want to help us build the next phase of Bennett’s Village?