The Park at SpArc: A Place to Belong

By Sarina Mam

On a day when the sun is shining bright and the air is cool and crisp, Michael often takes a stroll to the courtyard in SpArc Services’ building, imagining what it would be like to have a spacious outdoor area surrounded by flowers and greenery to relax, unwind, and ponder the world around him under the clouds. This dream is closer than it seems–and will soon become a reality with the creation of The Park at SpArc.

From an aging warehouse to a versatile outdoor space, The Park at SpArc is SpArc Philadelphia’s latest endeavor. Designed in collaboration with Thomas Jefferson University Landscape Architecture students and the participants of SpArc Services, the park will feature fruit and vegetable gardens, a basketball court, an amphitheater, and space for quiet reflection, with each aspect of the park’s design influenced by participants, their family members, stakeholders, and the wider community. 

The Park at SpArc will serve as a safe, accessible, and inclusive environment for the participants of SpArc Services and the neighboring communities to embrace and connect with themselves and one another. “Some people don’t know each other, but when you’re at a park, you can play basketball, interact, talk more, and get to know each other more,” Michael, a participant of SpArc Services for more than a decade, shared.

Michael, 41, often spends his free time creating artwork while observing the nature around him. For Michael, The Park at SpArc means he has the opportunity to be outside every day, whether it is to take a quick stroll, have a soothing outdoor picnic, or simply surround himself in a calming environment for quiet reflection. 

When asked how the park might improve his time at SpArc Services, Michael replied, “Just by being able to go out there, I can enjoy the weather, enjoy the atmosphere, and watch people walk by.”

Whether it is sensory sensitivities or mobility challenges, public spaces are not often created with the disability community in mind. Although Michael loves the outdoors, there have been times when he’s felt nervous in public places and this is not unusual for many individuals with disabilities. 

The Park at SpArc aims to reduce these stressors by creating an inclusive and accessible green space that inspires a sense of community and freedom for an often underrepresented and underappreciated population.

Offering both active and quiet spaces, The Park at SpArc seeks to enhance program participants’ confidence, independence, and sense of inclusion and connection to their community and nature. The park will be located adjacent to SpArc Services’ building in North Philadelphia, positively impacting the local community that we serve as well as the neighboring communities by adding green space in an otherwise industrial, urban area. 

“If you look at the bigger picture, North Philadelphia is already very underserved and under-resourced, and then if we’re thinking even smaller, the disability community is even more under-resourced,” Cy Bergado, Cultural Arts Program Manager of SpArc Services, said. She continued, “I feel really good about this green space because it’s about accessibility to this community, not only the disability community but to the entire community.”

In the age of all things digital, it is often difficult, especially for people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD), to connect with others and maintain an active body and mind. At SpArc Services, the programs are intentionally designed to engage and meet the individual needs, interests, and goals of each participant, whether they represent becoming more active, exploring new artistic mediums, securing a job in the community, or honing social and communication skills.

“I think it’s really great that it’s not just a green space but a green space with certain components to it that cater to the participants’ interests and skills,” Cy said. “For example, the amphitheater; these guys are performers so they are going to love that. There are also a lot of participants who enjoy sports, especially basketball. So the basketball court, at its scale and how large it is, is going to be really great for them.”

As people with disabilities are more likely to live sedentary lives, SpArc Services deeply values physical activity to maintain healthy lifestyles. Each morning at 10 AM, a staff member hosts “morning meeting” with program participants as they fill the room with words of encouragement and warm-up exercises to begin the day with high energy. “We really prioritize movement at SpArc,” Cy shared, “For example, in morning meetings, we say ‘Stand up if you can, and if not, we have exercises for you to do with your arms.’ So giving them this big space will help us meet this need and interest in movement… [The park] will give them the motivation.”

The Park at SpArc not only benefits the physical health of participants but also their mental health. According to a study conducted by Frontiers in Psychology, 20 minutes of urban nature experiences each day can significantly help reduce stress levels. While the program aims for participants to have the opportunity to spend time outdoors and in the community at their will, organizing trips with large groups of people has its challenges, especially when public spaces do not always have accessibility in mind. 

“I love giving participants the opportunity to go out but sometimes the logistics behind it can be a little stressful at times. Some spaces aren’t accessible, for example, there’s no parking or elevators,” Cy mentioned, “But having a green space outside changes all of that, because we don’t need a vehicle, elevators, or to worry about parking. We can just go outside and that’ll be accessible for everyone with all abilities.”

At first glance of The Park at SpArc’s concept design, Sasha, 34, who has been a participant of SpArc Services since 2017, was instantly swept with excitement as she pictured herself working on artwork while taking in the fresh air. “Whatever it turns out to be, I’m going to be shocked,” Sasha beamed, “I can picture it now, it’s going to be beautiful and nice, and I hope it stays that way.”

As she immediately envisioned what additions would perfect the park, Sasha also highlighted the importance of accessibility so that everyone, regardless of current mobility or sensory sensitivities, could enjoy the green space as they pleased. 

“I think [the park] is for everyone, not just one person,” Sasha said when asked how The Park at SpArc would better her life. “Some people can’t go that far down the street, they can’t walk that far. So I think it’s good it’s closer to us.”

Like many participants at SpArc Services, Sasha does not often have the opportunity to go outside, explore, and bask in the warming sun as she pleases. For Sasha and many others, The Park at SpArc provides a newfound sense of freedom–freedom to enjoy the fresh air, build deeper connections with one another, gain artistic inspiration, and most importantly, the freedom to choose their surroundings.

The Park at SpArc will be life-changing for our organization and the community we are proud to serve. As we continue raising funds to create this much-needed green space, we once again ask for your support. From dream to concept and now from concept to reality, we thank you for your continued support, what you have already given, and what you are considering donating today to help take this $1.4 million project from demolition to construction. Learn more about The Park at SpArc here.