Students Design Sensory Park, Push Accessibility Forward in Perry County
Perry County students presented final designs for a community sensory park after completing a 10 week accessibility program, and local leaders say those designs will shape the park as it moves toward construction. The project builds local capacity on accessibility, brings youth into public planning, and aims to create inclusive outdoor space for residents with sensory and mobility needs.
Students, parents, and city, county and school leaders gathered at the UK Center of Excellence in Rural Health building on December 2 for a certificate ceremony and presentations marking the end of a 10 week program called Coordinating and Assisting the Reuse of Assistive Technology Together One Priority, or CARAT TOP. The students displayed final concepts for a sensory park that local officials said will inform the park design as planning continues.
Program managers said the cohort began in September and included students who had never worked on a community design project before. The curriculum took students out of the classroom to visit an existing sensory park, meet with engineers, and test how sound, smell, touch and sight could be integrated into outdoor play and therapy spaces. The hands on work was aimed at building practical accessibility knowledge and community engagement skills among high school students across Perry County and neighboring districts.
“This time we’re working with the city and county on a sensory park idea concept where the students are involved in the design and the whole development of the park,” said Keisha Wells, CARAT TOP manager. Student presenters described dividing into teams focused on different senses, taking study trips to parks in Pikeville, and developing plans tailored to local needs. “We split into groups and we’ve been working on different senses like smell and hearing. And we’ve taken trips to other like sensory parks around here like Pikeville and we’ve just been working on our ideas for this one we’re planning on making here,” said Molly Mullins, a sophomore at Buckhorn High School.
Students reported growth in collaboration and accessibility awareness. “Since we’re working with so many schools, I’ve really learned how to work with new people and people that I haven’t met before. And I would say that just delegating tasks between us has been a really useful skill,” said Aubrey Cornett, a senior at Hazard High School. “I have learned so much about like sensory and like disabilities and ways to incorporate that in like everyday life. It has opened new doors. It has put me out there,” said Alaina Baker, a freshman at Perry County Central High School.
Local officials welcomed the practical input and discussed next steps for turning concepts into construction plans. “We worked really close this year with this group and looking forward to implementing some of their ideals. I would hope a year or two uh to that we would have our Sensory Park up and running,” said Scott Alexander, Perry County judge executive. Students will reconvene in January with a mix of returning and new participants as the project moves into its next stage, a continuation city planners and health advocates say will strengthen inclusive community infrastructure and address unmet needs for accessible public spaces.
