The Howell High School Senior Survivor playground has officially opened at the Genoa Township Park! Senior Survivor is a charity fundraiser organized by the Howell High School Student Council. The fundraiser is a game similar to the show Survivor. Rather than being sent to an island, 12th grade survivors are in the school for a whole week and each day a number of survivors will be eliminated until only one remains and is crowned the “Ultimate Survivor.” The 2021 & 2022 Senior Survivor fundraisers brought in over $462,000 for the Survivor playground.
With additional contributions from Genoa Township and support from Michigan Recreational Construction, the playground is located between the soccer field and the upper parking lot at Genoa Township Park. A map of the Survivor playground can be found below as well as images of some of the features of the playground.
The Survivor playground is accessible as well as consist of elements that encourage engagement among all individuals. The goal of the Survivor playground is to provide a safe place where children of all abilities can play together. Different aspects of the playground were designed to meet the needs of children who have mobility impairments, have autism, or are sight or hearing-impaired. Everything is accessible, however the user’s unique abilities determines what they can do. The Survivor playground is developmentally appropriate for children with and without disabilities by offering a wide range of challenging play opportunities where all children can interact. The focus is on abilities not disabilities.
In addition to being inclusive, the Survivor playground is nature-inspired and looks different than your average playground. Rather than having all elements made out of plastic or metal, the Survivor playground consists of natural elements and textures such as logs, stumps, ropes, boulders, and plants. Natural playgrounds present opportunities for individual exploration and discovery as well as collaborative play. While playing at the Survivor playground, children not only develop physical skills but also imagination and problem-solving skills.