KENNEWICK, Wash.- 9-year-old Kason Creed is receiving national attention after advocating for inclusive parks. Kason and Kennewick Parks and Recreation Manager Nick Farline worked together to make Kennewick parks more accessible for children of all abilities.
Now, Kason is being recognized as February’s TIME For Kids “Kid of the Month“.
October 2022, Kason visited a Kennewick City Council meeting where he shared that he didn’t feel there was any playground in Kennewick suitable for him and his wheelchair. Farline heard his concerns and immediately jumped into action.
By November of 2023 the Kennewick Parks and Recreation Department unveiled “Kason’s Korner” at the Playground of Dreams, a disability-friendly area dedicated to Kason.
“It really was a testament to the courage of Kason ,” said Farline. “The entire Parks and Rec staff, they were inspired by Kason and inspired by the cause.”
Farline said it was a team effort to make Kason’s Korner happen. The City Council, City Manager, Rec Commission and even playground suppliers came together to make the addition to the play area quickly, said Farline.
According to Farline, Kason has helped the Kennewick Parks and Rec team reevaluate their standards.
“As a result of this we have gone back and updated and changed our processes,” said Farline. “Whenever we do anything in a new playground we are going to put in that playground grass.”
Farline said this grass would be an alternative to the typical manufactured bark chips that can make equipment more difficult to access in a wheelchair.
According to Farline, Kennewick Parks and Rec want to continue to make even more upgrades to be more inclusive.
“We also had this idea of a fully-inclusive splashpad,” said Farline. “We are making that a reality.”
The new splash pad will be done this spring, right next to the Kennewick city pool across from Kennewick High School.
