Intergenerational Playspace at Beverly Park

Legacy Parks created Knoxville’s first Intergenerational Playspace at Beverly Park in north Knox County, which opened in November 2023. The Playspace was made possible through a $150,000 Trinity Health Foundation of East Tennessee grant as part of their two-phase grant funding program aimed at enhancing the overall health and well-being of our community.

Benefits of Intergenerational Play

Studies show that people of all ages benefit from increased physical activity, access to vitamin D, fresh air, and the reduction of health risk factors associated with outdoor activity. Research on Intergenerational play specifically, has shown that children display higher levels of language and problem-solving skills when they have lots of contact with adults. Intergenerational play also shifts play from being a competitive activity to a more playful one. But the benefits are not just for children – playful interactions can also benefit older adults, supporting better health and social engagement, preventing cognitive decline, and creating multigenerational learning opportunities.

Features

The design of the Playspace was curated with help from Ross/Fowler and healthcare and parks practitioners, and includes:

An ellipse shaped central activity area surrounded by a walking track with handrail
Therapeutic zone featuring rehabilitative equipment for physical exercise
Play features to encourage children to play
Generational swings intended for adults to face children and swing together
Musical area
Native gardens
Benches and a walking Storybook trail
Soft surface rubberized floor to be gentle on the joints and avoid risk of falling