farmington may see creation of unique all-abilities park

The site of the former Tibbetts Middle School may soon be redeveloped and turned into a recreational park especially geared for children with disabilities.

Members of the Farmington City Council have given the go-ahead to a feasibility study that will look at how such a park would be built, the number and kind of recreational stations it would contain, and how its construction would be funded.

A new Tibbets Middle School was opened in the fall of 2013, with the older school subsequently being used by students from nearby Hermosa Junior High.

The old school building, located at 312 E. Apache Street, was finally demolished in the fall of 2017.

In recent months, officials with both the Farmington Municipal School District and City of Farmington have been informally discussing the possibility of an agreement to use the old Tibbetts site for a park.

According to the Farmington Daily Times, City Manager Rob Mayes said, “We are very close to a deal where the schools would make the property available for this project and, in turn, we would almost immediately take over the maintenance of that property and the open space.”

The all-abilities park movement has been gradually picking up steam around the country. Such parks typically feature unitary surfacing amenable to wheelchairs and other mobility devices, extra wide pathways and ramps, fenced-in play areas, and quiet spaces.

By Garry Boulard

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