Morgan's Inspiration Island Accessible Splash Park

Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 2015/12/05 - Updated: 2025/08/20
Publication Type: Informative
Category Topic: Recreation and Entertainment - Academic Publications

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates

Synopsis: This article details the construction of the world's first ultra-accessible splash park, featuring comprehensive accommodations for visitors with diverse physical and cognitive abilities. The information comes from Disabled World, a quality-reviewed publication that specializes in disability-related topics, making it a reliable source for accessibility features and special needs accommodations. The content outlines six major water play areas, all designed with complete wheelchair accessibility, heated water options for temperature-sensitive guests, waterproof RFID tracking wristbands, and specialized waterproof wheelchairs available on-site.

The facility serves an important need by addressing the gap in recreational water activities for people with disabilities, particularly those using expensive motorized wheelchairs who cannot risk water damage to their equipment. The detailed description of accessibility features, from underground infrastructure to specialized equipment partnerships with university researchers, demonstrates the thoroughness of planning required to create truly inclusive recreational spaces that benefit individuals with disabilities, their families, and the broader community - Disabled World (DW).

Introduction

Morgan's Wonderland has begun construction on a multi-million-dollar expansion, Morgan's Inspiration Island, the world's first ultra-accessible splash park where guests of all ages and abilities can get wet and have fun together.

Main Content

Morgan's Wonderland is a 25 acres (10 ha) accessible amusement park in San Antonio, Texas, USA for children and adults with special cognitive and physical needs. A non-profit, Morgan's Wonderland is the very first theme park of its kind. The concept for the park is similar to a sensory garden. It is an example of adaptive recreation for children. The attractions are designed to be interactive for children with various abilities and disabilities. Now in its fifth season, the park has welcomed more than 500,000 guests from all 50 states and 49 other countries.

"In many ways, creating Morgan's Inspiration Island feels a lot like it did when our team designed and built Morgan's Wonderland with special-needs individuals in mind - it's never been done before," said Gordon Hartman, CEO of The Gordon Hartman Family Foundation.

"For the past two years, we've been working with water park consultants from Texas, Arizona, Florida and even Canada as well as local doctors and special-needs therapists. Now we're moving forward on laying pipe, installing pumps and building facilities with a target completion of spring 2017. We believe this new attraction will be tremendously popular because even kids and adults in wheelchairs will be able to have splashy fun in the South Texas sun."

Morgan's Inspiration Island, which will be situated between Morgan's Wonderland and the STAR (South Texas Area Regional) Soccer Complex, will overlook the theme park's 8-acre catch-and-release fishing lake. Six major elements will comprise the tropically themed paradise inspired by Hartman and his wife Maggie's 22-year-old daughter, Morgan, who deals with both cognitive and physical challenges. "We decided to call our new attraction Morgan's Inspiration Island because Morgan truly has been the catalyst for every project we've pursued to help the special-needs community," Gordon Hartman noted.

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Maggie Hartman added that;

"Morgan's Inspiration Island - like Morgan's Wonderland - will concentrate on inclusion and inspire guests with special needs to do things previously thought to be impossible. Those without disabilities and those with, including individuals in wheelchairs and guests with hearing and visual impairments, will be able to play alongside each other and gain a greater understanding of each other."

The River Boat Adventure ride will twist and turn more than an eighth of a mile through a jungle setting with bird and animal sounds in the background.

Five water play areas will offer a variety of splashy elements such as raintrees, falls, pools, geysers, jets, water cannons and tipping buckets:

• Hang 10 Harbor
• Rainbow Reef
• Shipwreck Island
• Castaway Bay
• Calypso Cove

Just like Morgan's Wonderland, every element will be wheelchair-accessible, and waterproof wristbands with RFID technology will be available so parents can go to a Location Station and easily ascertain the whereabouts of their children and other members of their party.

Hartman paid special tribute to philanthropist Harvey E.Najim, chairman of the 2015 Morgan's Wonderland Capital Campaign that's raising funds for Morgan's Inspiration Island as well as for a larger, multi-functional building to house The Academy at Morgan's Wonderland, a school next to the theme park for students with special needs ages 12 to 24.

"We'll never be able to adequately thank Harvey Najim for his passion when it comes to doing great things for people with disabilities and special needs," Hartman said."Harvey is truly a world champion when it comes to generosity. Those whose spirits will be lifted by Morgan's Inspiration Island have Harvey to thank for his resolve in securing the funds to take a great idea and make it reality."

Hartman noted that Morgan's Inspiration Island is about a year-and-a-half away from opening;

"but we have to start now because so much equipment must be installed underground before the splash park can take shape above ground. There's also quite a bit of complexity involved. For example, we'll have the capability of heating water in some areas so guests with sensitivity to cold can still splash and play. In addition, we're working with university researchers to develop special waterproof wheelchairs. Our guests in expensive motorized wheelchairs can't afford to get them wet, so we're planning on having special Morgan's Inspiration Island wheelchairs available along with spacious private areas where guests can be lifted out of their wheelchairs into our waterproof wheelchairs."

Hartman further pointed out that the splash park has been designed with water conservation in mind. Water used in the various play elements will be continuously filtered and recirculated, and it will be stored in huge underground tanks when the park is not in operation.

The 25-acre theme park is located at 5223 David Edwards Drive in Northeast San Antonio a half-mile west of IH 35 at the intersection of Wurzbach Parkway and Thousand Oaks Drive.

The Academy at Morgan's Wonderland

Featuring more than 25 wheelchair-accessible attractions including rides, playgrounds and gardens, Morgan's Wonderland is the center of a family fun destination known as Wonderland, Texas. The destination also includes Toyota Field, the 8,000-seat home of the San Antonio Scorpions pro soccer team; the STAR Soccer Complex for tournament and league play; and The Academy at Morgan's Wonderland.

CRIT

The newest addition to Wonderland, Texas is the CRIT (Children's Rehabilitation Institute of TeletonUSA), which serves children with neuro-musculoskeletal disabilities ages 18 and younger.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Author Credentials: Ian is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, a leading resource for news and information on disability issues. With a global perspective shaped by years of travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed proponent of the Social Model of Disability-a transformative framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that emphasizes dismantling societal barriers rather than focusing solely on individual impairments. His work reflects a deep commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.