Ribbon cutting planned for Hermiston’s tactile map at Funland
By Terry Murry on Tuesday, April 16th, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
HERMISTON – (News release from the city of Hermiston) Funland Playground’s newest accessibility feature will be unveiled on April 23 as the City of Hermiston, Parks & Recreation Department, and Hermiston Lions Club cut the ribbon on a tactile map of the playground.
A tactile map is designed specifically for people who are blind or visually impaired and allows them to perceive information about Funland Playground through raised surfaces, textures, braille, and symbols.
“Funland Playground was created as a place for children of all abilities and was designed with accessibility in mind,” said Hermiston Parks & Recreation Director Brandon Artz. “This tactile map embraces Hermiston’s identity as an inclusive community and ensures children with visual impairment can explore and enjoy the park.”
Hermiston Parks & Recreation and the Lions Club developed the Funland Tactile Map Committee and partnered with Portland Community College’s Accessible Ed & Disability Resources Department to develop and design the map. Key features were called out and used as raised positions for visually impaired to navigate through the playground. The map is placed at a reduced height so the young and old can use the map. A custom Funland Playground map will sit above the tactile map, allowing users to help the visually impaired show what is there.
“Not only does this map help the visually impaired but will also raise awareness to the broader community of how blindness affects everyday life,” Artz said. “This is truly an impressive feature that will educate us all.”
The ribbon cutting is Tuesday, April 23 at 5 p.m. at Funland Playground. The public is invited to celebrate along with the donors and services clubs.
The tactile map is unique to the region and has been a project of local clubs since the grand re-opening of the playground in 2021. Business and service club donors to the project include the Lions Club, Hermiston Agricultural Research Extension Center, Co Bank, Umatilla Electric Co-Op, Kiwanis Club, Les Schwab Tire Center, Lifetime Vision Source, as well as private donors.
Illustration is a design concept for the Funland Playground. The map will be unveiled at the planned ribbon cutting.
