A Space You Navigate With Every Sense
This Outdoor Mobility Training Area was designed specifically for the blind and visually impaired, creating a specialized environment to support adaptation and community integration. Working closely with the Vision Rehabilitation Center staff, our firm developed a multifaceted space adjacent to their newly constructed addition that blends functionality with sensory richness.
The design incorporates diverse ground materials including stamped concrete, gravel, brick pavers, limestone, and standard concrete, giving users comprehensive cane training opportunities across varied surfaces. Aromatic vegetation enhances the experience further, stimulating the sense of smell and aiding in spatial orientation. Every material and planting was chosen with purpose.
Built So Kids Can Learn to Play Fearlessly
A key feature is the children’s playground, thoughtfully designed with musical instruments, slides, climbing elements, balance beams, and swings. This area enables visually impaired children to learn playground navigation skills within a safe, controlled environment, building confidence in a space designed around their needs rather than in spite of them.
The project was recognized with a 2014 Merit Award in the Built Design category from the NY Upstate Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects, affirming that inclusive design and exceptional design are one and the same.