The Liberty Swing recently opened in Reid’s Journey, an inclusive playground in Hope Mills, on May 6. The Reid’s Journey playground is located at 5766 Rockfish Road. Reid’s Journey is open Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Wednesdays, noon to 7 p.m. For more information, contact Lamarco Morrison, director of Hope Mills Parks and Recreation, at 910-426-4109.
Play is a critical component in a child’s learning and development, according to the National Association of Young Children. Play is a vital process that supports cognitive, language, social-emotional and physical development. Play is essential for all children from birth through age eight. Play develops critical thinking skills and creativity.
Play is essential for children experiencing disabilities. The additional benefits are the development of fine and gross motor skills, language, cognitive abilities and self-regulation of emotions. Inclusive playgrounds and play allow social integration. Children experiencing disabilities and children without disabilities can interact and create friendships. Children experiencing disabilities can experience the options of choice, independence, being in control, critical thinking skills and sensory development.
The Liberty Swing is a feature of Reid’s Journey. The Liberty Swing is a specialized swing designed for individuals experiencing mobility impairments and children who use wheelchairs. Wayne Devine designed the Liberty Swing in 1988, after he noticed children experiencing disabilities were excluded from traditional swings. The key features of the Liberty Swing are a ramp for wheelchair access, a locking mechanism for the wheelchair wheels, a fold-down seat, and a safety harness. Liberty Swings are designed and manufactured in Sidney, Australia. The Liberty Swing is designed to be accessible for the child who uses a wheelchair to experience the joy of play, according to the Liberty Swing website.
Inclusive playgrounds such as Reid’s Journey have the impact of fostering social inclusion and promoting physical activity. Seeing children of different abilities play together reduces the stigma associated with being differently abled, creates an inclusive community and promotes acceptance.
“The inspiration for Reid’s Journey came from parents Mike and Dena Seals to honor their son. Reid Seals was born on August 14, 2013. Reid lived for eleven days after his birth, passing peacefully at home on August 25, 2013. His parents made a promise that they would not let him be forgotten. They registered Reid’s Journey as a charity and began to help others,” said Morrison. “Their goal was to find a permanent way to remember Reid. Their thoughts turned to building a playground for children like Reid, who were differently abled, to play alongside other children. The Seals presented the idea to the Board of Commissioners and received unanimous support with seed money of $16,000 from the Cumberland County Foundation and $340,000 in appropriations from the State of North Carolina. The funding was available for the inclusive playground at the Municipal Park, known as Reid’s Journey. The vision of Hope Mills Park and Recreation was to provide a place where children with all levels of mobility and capabilities could all play together in lieu of being separated and labeled special needs.”
The steps from a visionary concept to a built environment followed the industry standard for planning and development, Morrison said, and the town entered into a contract with the engineering firm McAdams and went through a design process that involved the whole community.
“We feel the achievement of this vision by the feature of the Liberty Swing. The Liberty Swing is an added bonus because children using wheelchairs can have the same experience of a swing. This play apparatus was intentionally designed adjacent to the other swings so that all children can swing together,” said Morrison.
“The park impacts the quality of life of the families and children of Hope Mills by providing a local amenity not offered in Cumberland County. As a result, we tracked people who use the playground from all over Cumberland, Hoke, and Robeson counties. It has improved life because it allows families to enjoy leisure together in an enclosed and safe environment. The next level of services is not just limiting amenities to Reid’s Journey Inclusive Play Complex; there are current plans to build other inclusive playgrounds in other parts of Hope Mills. Our goal is to make all our park facilities inclusive and ADA compliant, including our programs and athletics.”
“The economic impact has been positive; concession sales at the adjacent concession stands have more than doubled,” Morrison said. “Families have reserved the playground area and shelters for birthdays and other celebratory occasions, which increases Parks and Recreation revenues. We have had patrons visit the department to find out what other amenities Hope Mills offers, and have registered for reservations, programs, and athletics.”
All children should be afforded opportunities to play regardless of their racial group, socioeconomic class, and disability, if diagnosed and experiencing a disability. Although play has been positioned as a privilege, it must be repositioned as a right, as outlined by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child, Article 31, 785.

(Photo: The Liberty Swing at the Reid's Journey playground in Hope Mills gives those in wheelchairs the ability to enjoy swinging at the park. Photo courtesy of Hope Mills Parks and Recreation)