Gwinnett County Officials unveiled Thursday its new Sensory Treehouse on the grounds of the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center in unincorporated Buford.
Designed to provide access to enrichment opportunities to those with disabilities, the 20- foot tree house includes a 340-foot-long accessible steel walkway with three nodes, surrounded by a viewing and activity platform and a high-hanging hammock. The interior of the treehouse offers a circular audio-visual area with a domed ceiling that will be used for several teaching and entertainment experiences.
Gwinnett County Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson shared the importance of the facility for those in the community with disabilities in a press release.
“With inclusivity at the forefront of our initiatives, the treehouse enables our residents to connect with peers and develop lifelong skills related to science and nature,” Hendrickson said. “We strive to ensure that every member of our community can access resources without unnecessary barriers.”
The treehouse is ADA-accessible, which will allow wheelchair users to reach areas in the forest that would otherwise be inaccessible by conventional footpaths. The center will also collaborate with the Gwinnett County Public School System to offer exhibits displayed along the forest trail, providing multisensory environmental experiences that emphasize themes such as habitat, pollinators, animal adaptations, and more.
The project was funded by $4.5 million in SPLOST funds.
District 4 Commissioner Matthew Holtkamp also shared his enthusiasm for the facility on behalf of the county.
“Gwinnett County is committed to the ongoing development of quality resources and programming that support our community,” Holtkamp said. “These valued partnerships are essential to cultivating the well-being of our residents.”
