Vanguard’s Beethoven Elementary Playground Named One of Nation’s Best Inclusive School Playgrounds

Staff Report

EDINBURG TX – Beethoven Elementary’s City Park playground, part of Vanguard Academy in Edinburg, has been named one of the “10 Best Inclusive School Playgrounds in America” for 2025 by Soliant Health, a leading education and healthcare staffing agency.

The national recognition celebrates the campus’s commitment to creating a space where children of all abilities can play, learn, and interact together. The award honors playgrounds that go beyond minimum accessibility standards to provide inclusive environments designed through universal design principles, sensory-rich features, and community collaboration.

“These exceptional playgrounds represent more than just accessible equipment—they embody a fundamental belief that every child deserves equal opportunities for joy, connection, and development through play,” said Lesley Slaughter, senior vice president of education at Soliant Health.

Beethoven Elementary was recognized alongside schools from across the country, including campuses in Texas, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Alabama, and Washington, D.C. The selected playgrounds were evaluated on several criteria, including physical accessibility, sensory engagement, community involvement, and their ability to foster meaningful interactions among children of all abilities.

The Beethoven City Park playground was developed through collaborative efforts between Vanguard Academy and the City of Edinburg. The space exemplifies a broader effort to promote equity in education and childhood development through inclusive recreational design.

The full list and profiles of all ten recognized playgrounds are available at soliant.com.

Source – Soliant Health.