"The Little Herb Garden" – Where play knows no boundaries.
Inspired by little Sophia, we are building a groundbreaking park in Evergem where physical, sensory, and cognitive barriers completely disappear. Thanks to the support of strong partners such as Cera, LEADER, and the Streekfonds East Flanders (King Baudouin Foundation), we are transforming a vision into a tangible, barrier-free reality. Every detail—from seamless rubber flooring to interactive pictograms—is designed to let children with and without disabilities shine together. Curious to see how we will take social cohesion to the next level in 2026?
Where play knows no boundaries.
“True inclusion does not stop at a barrier-free floor. It begins with the freedom to explore together, regardless of who you are or how you move.”
The Vision: 360° Inclusion
The "Little Herb Garden" (Kruidentuintje) in the Kruidenwijk district of Evergem is not just a playground. It is a pioneering project by Sophia’s Steps vzw, born from the need for a place where children like Sophia — who lives with the rare Aicardi-Goutières Syndrome (AGS) — can simply be children, without limitations.
We look beyond the wheelchair. Our vision is an environment where physical, sensory, and cognitive barriers completely disappear.
Why this project makes a difference
We work with a multidisciplinary approach to include every child (and every adult):
🛡️ Maximum Mobility:A seamless 100 m² rubber surface provides the necessary stability for children using crutches, braces, or a Kaye walker.
💬 Inclusive Communication:Interactive pictogram cards give a voice to children with autism or communication challenges.
🎨 Sensory Stimulation:High-contrast colours and sound elements (such as our music hub) make the park accessible to visually impaired and auditory-oriented children.
🧩 Neurodiversity:A structured layout creates a safe, predictable environment for children with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder).
A Place for the Community (Social Cohesion)
The Kruidentuintje ("Little Herb Garden") is the glue of the Kruidenwijk. It is an intergenerational meeting place where grandparents can comfortably rest while grandchildren play. It breaks the isolation of families raising a child with special needs and strengthens the caring social fabric of our municipality.
Our Partners & Realisation
This project is a powerful example of what is possible when citizens, governments, and strong social partners join forces.
Sophia’s Steps vzw is the initiator and coordinator safeguarding the inclusive vision and Universal Design of the park. The organisation mobilises the local community and care partners through a consultation group to create a widely supported playground. In addition to coordinating crowdfunding and private funding, it acts as the driving force behind social activation in the neighbourhood. After the opening in 2026, the organisation will remain responsible for fostering social cohesion and continuously evaluating accessibility.
Strategic Partners:
Municipality of Evergem: The active public partner that, through a formal cooperation agreement, provides the financial foundation via the Citizen Budget (€30,500). It ensures long-term sustainability by taking full responsibility for technical management and site maintenance.
Streekfonds East Flanders (#Regiokracht): Managed by the King Baudouin Foundation, this fund facilitates social anchoring and crowdfunding. It provides coaching for civic engagement and doubles funds raised by the community.
Paul and Philippe Claes Fund (King Baudouin Foundation): Participates as the social anchor point for patients with a rare condition. By supporting this project, the fund bridges the gap between medical challenges and daily quality of life, offering these children a tangible opportunity to step out of isolation and fully participate in the neighborhood.
Cera: A social investor. Their support is specifically allocated to sensory and cognitive enhancements, such as the interactive pictogram board.
LEADER (Meetjesland-Leievallei): Provides European support for the creation of the central inclusive hub. This subsidy acts as a lever for the most innovative elements, such as the sunken wheelchair carousel and seamless rubber flooring.
Speelplan Belgium: An expert organisation responsible for quality control. They validate the design according to Universal Design principles and perform the formal safety certification (EN 1176).
Dadiplay: The executing expert responsible for the layout plan and the delivery of educational and physical play equipment, tailored to the needs of all children.
Timeline & Budget
With a total budget of approximately €60,000, we are building a sustainable future. Completion is planned for summer 2026. We exclusively use high-quality materials (stainless steel and HDPE) that comply with the strict European safety standard EN 1176.
A sincere thank you to all our partners for helping to make this dream come true!
