Rising third-year Allyssa Cusson ’27, Entertainment Design, won the award for inclusive design from Parkitecture, the annual virtual architectural design competition held by the Cal Poly Amusement Park Engineers and Designers (CAPED). Cusson developed and submitted T.R.O.P.S. (Tropical Rainforest Observation and Preservation Sanctuary), a design for an immersive, 100,000-square-foot theme park “with a deep focus of inclusivity and accessibility in the guest experience,” she explained.
For the 2026 Parkitecture competition, entrants were asked to build their design around a singular biome. Inclusivity is among the primary objectives. According to Cusson’s submission, T.R.O.P.S. “is a living rainforest preserve where immersive design and conservation coexist.” The park’s features, all built throughout an environment inspired by Amazonian habitats, include a slow-moving boat ride, a bird sanctuary with an observation trail, and a ropes course—all of which are ADA-accessible. The aim is to encourage guests “to explore different layers of the biome, from the forest floor to the canopy and along the river systems that sustain it.”
Cusson’s design included details of ADA-compliant boats and demonstrations for how guests of all abilities would be able to utilize each feature of the park, including the ropes course, to ensure elevated exploration.
“I explored how accessibility and inclusive design principles can be intentionally woven into every stage of the creative process,” she says, “resulting in experiences that are engaging, meaningful, and welcoming to all guests.”
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