T.B. Hanna Station includes a new playground and splash pad that is inclusive for children of all abilities.
The newly renovated T.B Hanna Station includes the Variety KC Inclusive Sprayground and Playground!
T.B. Hanna Station is the summation of a vision in which a park in the heart of Raymore’s Original Town neighborhood unifies the City’s past with its future, while creating a space where all residents and visitors – regardless of abilities – are able to play together year-round.
Featuring the Variety KC Inclusive Playground and Inclusive Sprayground, T.B. Hanna Station is the first park in the United States with two universally accessible play spaces in the same location that are designed and built for people of all abilities.
The project was funded in part with a 2016 voter-approved No Tax Increase General Obligation Bond, the City’s Park Fund and General Fund. Variety Children’s Charity of Greater Kansas City (Variety KC), a not-for-profit organization that provides opportunities for play and inclusion for children with special abilities, provided a grant of $135,000 to upgrade the play spaces to be inclusive – meaning fully accessible to individuals of all abilities – and St. Louis-based award winning nonprofit organization Unlimited Play designed the inclusive sprayground and playground.
In cooperation with Cook, Flat & Stobel (CFS) Engineers, a site plan was designed to maintain the character of Original Town Raymore and the former train depot while reviving the underutilized space in the heart of the community.
The park also features ADA restrooms that are open throughout all seasons and a performance stage area that is home to the Mayor’s Tree and the annual Raymore Christmas Tree Trail during the holidays. The Depot is a covered pavilion that transforms into The Rink each winter, a custom-designed ice rink that fits within the shelter facility, which truly makes the park a year-round attraction. A restoration project converted the old Raymore post office, which was in service from the 1950s through the 1980s, into the Station House, a storage facility that replicates the original depot station on site that now houses the ice rink during the summer months.
The sprayground designed by Unlimited Play includes a custom-designed train that is wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs, walkers and other assistive devices.The train sets the stage for the overall theme of the park, highlighting the abandoned railroad tracks that once ran through town. It features a flat surface with overhead sprinklers, splash buckets, an LED light display and sound effects that allow individuals of all ages and abilities to play and enjoy. A playground with accessible swings, musical instruments and a merry-go-round brings a traditional element to the park. Communication boards in each play area display illustrations to help children with limited language skills, especially those with autism, to express themselves and communicate their needs and wants.
