Historic park reimagined for accessibility and play

Midway Plaisance Park

Location	Chicago, Illinois
Client	Chicago Park District
Expertise	Inclusive & Accessible Design, Research & Design Innovation, Community Collaboration
Size	4.2 acres
Completion	2026

Chicago's first truly inclusive play space

Located across from the Obama Presidential Center, the historic Midway Plaisance is a one-mile-long linear park originally designed by Frederick Law Olmsted for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. In collaboration with the Chicago Park District, we transformed the eastern end of this significant landscape into Midway Plaisance Park, Chicago’s first truly inclusive play space.

Midway plaisance east end improvements principles site design group

Although most Chicago Park District parks are designed to be universally accessible, true inclusion meant going beyond minimum accessibility requirements to create a dynamic play experience that supports a broad range of physical, sensory, and cognitive needs. Through extensive research into inclusive play and universal design, we established three guiding principles:

1. Eliminate social and environmental barriers.

2. Create opportunities for people with and without disabilities to play alongside one another.

3. Offer acceptable risk and graduated challenges for people with and without disabilities.

Building on these principles, we developed a design index of 20 strategies addressing mobility, sensory, and intellectual disabilities. These strategies informed every aspect of the play space, helping create a welcoming and inclusive environment that can be experienced by the widest possible range of users.

Levels of Challenge for Inclusive Play

The play space is organized around three levels of challenge. Universally Attainable areas require the least physical exertion and provide lower-stimulation environments. Moderated Challenge areas introduce greater physical difficulty and multisensory activity. Acceptable Risk areas offer the highest levels of movement, activity, and physical challenge. Rather than prescribing a single play experience, this framework allows visitors to choose the level that feels right for them while remaining connected through shared spaces and activities.

The three pathways converge at universal gathering spaces, including a natural water play area, picnic zone, and musical play area, reinforcing interaction and connection across ages and abilities. Five sensory nooks are woven throughout the landscape, providing opportunities for multi-sensory engagement as well as quieter spaces for respite. Custom wayfinding and communication tools further support navigation, independence, and participation.

A custom signage system was developed to aid in making everyone feel welcome to the area while allowing them to understand the different aspects of the space independently.

The signage types created included orientation maps, signs for each node and sensory nook, signage for the main pieces of equipment as well as a communication board for those who prefer non-verbal communication.

Explore

Legend

Fragrance Circle

Sound Forest

Butterfly Garden

Building Fort

Through graduated challenges, meaningful choice, and opportunities for shared play, Midway Plaisance Park creates a welcoming landscape where people of all abilities can participate, explore, and engage in their own way.